The Quiet Thrill of Enkay Chuks’ “You’re Beautiful”

By Emmanuel Daraloye

WHEN this writer first discovered the song, “You’re Beautiful” by Enkay Chuks on a spotify DJ shuffle, it was a pleasant surprise seeing that it was a debut release. Could a song pack this much amount of poise and purpose that it radiates through the first listen? Well, the introspective, sober spin spoke loudly before any other alternative opinion could be deduced. It is this sheer shock value that puts the icing on the cake for this record, ringing off as a deeply immersive RnB delight.

Within the composition, Enkay Chuks, born Nkechi Chukwuma, offsets layers of intrigue with her hypermelodic arrangement. She combined her voice, like an instrument, with interesting local percussion and sweltering chord progressions to create a unique harmony. Each key portion of the song carries a signature high-key pitch, especially the refrain, “You are beautifully made/ You are wonderfully made/ You are the number one in the room!”

In “You’re Beautiful”, Enkay sings with the charisma of operatic singers, commanding presence with her powerful cadence. Nonetheless, the song’s simple-but-soulful instrumentation unlocks its most alluring groove, placing the record in a sort of Lo-fi realm albeit with dramatic twists. At several portions of the song, she uses intentional breaks, improvisations and spontaneous transitions to keep the groove cohesive, boosting its replay value.

Again, if there’s any track that achieves “good use” of backing vocals and scatting, it is “You’re Beautiful”. Throughout the verses, Enkay Chuks layers soothing choral backing vocals to spark emotional intensity and lyrical emphasis, especially when they break into a call-and-response with the phrases, “You are the number one” and “You are wonderfully made”. Her “la-la-la-las”, sung in unison with the backing choir also stretches these aforementioned qualities, giving Enkay enough room to explore her voice as a musical tool. She also uses repetition and pauses a lot during this song, altogether, immersing the listeners with catharsis, while boosting easy recall.

For dedicated listeners of other gospel acts like Sinach, Hillsong, for instance, Enkay’s “You’re Beautiful” easily connects as a soulful RnB fusion, one where the melodies sandwich her powerful Christian adorations with that sacred-yet-exciting ambience that separates classics from hits. In fact, “You’re Beautiful” connects as a general audience track, with its lyrics ringing as powerful self-affirmations. It’s an anthem that reminds anyone struggling with body dysmorphia or any esteem-related issues that they’re still able to light up any room.  It’s a call to erase self-doubt and overcome anxiety or depression by maintaining a positive mindset. Whether as a spiritual tune or as a classic neutral mood lifter, “You’re Beautiful” is an easy digest, lush with soothing harmonies throughout the spin.

A standout portion of “You’re Beautiful” for this writer would be its guitar chord progressions: subtle, simple, and almost invincible; but when you catch its presence, especially as a transitive tool, it takes your mind to Rock n Roll or Jazz classics. The guitar tunes appear with suspense and calm intensity, elevating the composition to its hypermelodic groove.

Overall, “You’re Beautiful” is a satisfactory listen and a worthy attempt for a debut release. Released alongside the song, “I Will Go”, it’s a bold introduction of Enkay Chuks’ artistry in the African music scene. It soars with shock and replay value, combining its deep, prayerful lyrics with bohemian melodies that strengthens its quality as an evergreen spin. Its warm, dreamscape-esque “la-la-la-las” and erratic cadence charge it as a captivating track. In short, “You’re Beautiful” intimately spotlights Enkay Chuks’ remarkable prowess as a vocalist and composer, placing her on the radar of contemporary musicians to watch in 2026.