ZIEWAVE Creates A Cool and Contagious Vibe on City Lights

Chinonso Ihekire

The rise of young Nigerian producers has become one of the most exciting stories in today’s music scene. Their impact goes beyond making beats, they craft the soundscape, moods, and movements across many demographics of music lovers. Among this new wave, Ziewave has carved out his own space, steadily earning recognition for a discography that connects him with talented artists while stamping his signature on every track. While working, he does not intend to be loud; his work is intentional, textured, and full of sonic and cultural understanding. Ziewave puts this approach to the test on “City Lights” by Zen Univrse.

The record thrives on a simple but sensual approach. It doesn’t impose itself upon the listener. Instead, it invites you into the world that Ziewave constructs. He builds the record on a minimalistic foundation, with light kicks and airy synths holding down the skeleton of the track. The laidback essence of the record speaks volumes; every sound that enters the mix feels carefully considered with no ideas wasted. The song’s uncluttered nature gives it that “Gen-Z coded” feel; perfect for late-night drives, small kickbacks, or moments when silence is too empty but noise is too much.

The percussion deserves special mention. Ziewave doesn’t overplay his hand with heavy drums. Instead, he uses percussive accents sparingly, almost like punctuation marks that emphasize the intensity of certain moments within the song. Right before the chorus, the drums step forward just enough to signal a shift, creating a sense of anticipation without ever overpowering Zen Univrse’s impressive vocals. It’s a production decision that keeps the record balanced: calm, but never monotonous

Then there are the synths, which gives the record its emotional element. They glide across the track with a warm tone, inducing nostalgic energy that makes even unknown feelings ring familiar; giving listeners an image of long nights spent in conversation or quiet reflection. Synths in Nigerian pop music are often used as bright flourishes or to fill space, but Ziewave employs them differently here—they become the emotional thread that ties the song together. The choice of sound is not random; it is the kind of detail that shows a producer deeply in tune with the mood he wants to create.

One of the song’s most distinctive features is the use of a voice notes at different points within the song where a speaker casually says, “let’s relax and listen to some jams.” On paper, it might seem like a throwaway detail, but in execution, it becomes the song’s highlighted statement. That little snippet embodies the vibe of “City Lights.” It tells the listener an outright idea of what the record is meant for; to unwind and provide a soft landing away from the chaos of everyday life. Credit again goes to Ziewave for weaving this into the track’s DNA without it feeling cliché.

And then comes the guitar strings during the instrumental solo. This is perhaps the record’s finest moment. After maintaining its minimalistic flow, Ziewave introduces the guitar as if to remind us that a simple instrumental does not mean a boring one. The strings add warmth and they expand the record’s emotional range. It’s a clever move: just when the track could risk fading into background music, the guitar re-centers the listener and brings the song back to life. That small decision speaks to Ziewave’s instinct as a producer — understanding when and how to add a new color to the record.

What makes “City Lights” such a strong record is not just its easy-listening quality, but the intelligence behind its production. Ziewave understands that music for this demographic doesn’t need to shout to be heard. The youthful audience that Zen Univrse appeals to craves mood, texture, and authenticity that they can relate to. Ziewave delivers all three. By curating the instrumental like a sound designer, he selects only the most essential elements, arranging them in a way that feels effortless. It’s also worth noting how much space the production leaves for Zen Univrse’s performance. The instrumental is crafted in such a way that Zen’s vocals never have to fight the beat for room. Instead, they float within the instrumental as part of the atmosphere rather than sitting on top of it. That relationship between producer and artist is what gives “City Lights” its cohesion. The song feels whole composition, not disjointed parts pieced together.

In the larger picture of Ziewave’s career, “City Lights” may not be the loudest or flashiest record in his catalog, but it’s one that reveals the depth of his artistry. It shows that he can take a minimal template and transform it into something layered with feeling. It proves that he knows his audience. For a producer steadily rising in the Nigerian music landscape, he is ready to craft experiences across multiple soundscapes.