Raymanna Takes Listeners Behind the Stories and Creative Process Behind His Debut Album

Rising Nigerian artiste Raymanna offers listeners a deeper look into the inspiration, experiences and creative moments that shaped his debut album ‘Raymanna Put You In A Trance‘, sharing the stories behind each track and the unexpected circumstances that brought some of the project’s most interesting records to life.

From spontaneous melodies and humorous holiday experiences to personal struggles, late-night creativity and reflections on wealth, the album draws from different stages of Raymanna’s life, with each song carrying its own story.

The project opens with “Intro,” a record that came together towards the end of the album’s mixing process. While rounding up work on the project, a melody unexpectedly came to Raymanna. Although he initially considered developing it into a separate song, he eventually decided it would serve better as the album’s introduction.

One of the project’s more unusual stories comes from “Dying in Berlin.” Written during a holiday in Berlin, Raymanna recalls battling food poisoning and dehydration when he jokingly pleaded, “God, please forgive me. I think I’m dying in Berlin.” The exact cadence of the statement immediately caught his attention, inspiring him to turn the phrase into a verse. What began as a joke eventually developed into a full song after he shared the experience with a producer, who helped bring the idea to life.

“Eli” came together in 2024 after Raymanna asked a friend to create a beat built around a reverse sound. The resulting production, characterised by its soothing atmosphere, guitar elements and 808s, immediately caught his attention. Inspired by the instrumental, he developed a hook that received positive reactions from everyone in the room, eventually becoming the record listeners hear today.

Meanwhile, “Virtues and Vices” dates back to 2023. The song began with an idea that came to him while lying in bed, where he wrote the lyrics before receiving a beat from a producer. He subsequently adapted the original composition to fit the instrumental, giving birth to the finished record.

For “Ice and Hennessy,” Raymanna took a collaborative approach. A friend shared a vocal idea with him, which he immediately connected with. He then approached a producer to build an instrumental around the vocals, and together they developed the song.

Personal experiences also played a significant role in shaping the album. “Getmoney Getmoney” was inspired by a particularly demanding period during his master’s programme, when he struggled to balance academic responsibilities with a job he had applied for. After receiving an instrumental from a friend, Raymanna wrote the song while working through the frustrations of that period during winter.

Another unconventional experience inspired “Amsterdam Cruise.” Recalling an incident during his time in school, Raymanna explained that he mistakenly consumed mushrooms that a friend had left on a table, believing they were edibles. The resulting experience, which he described as an attempt to get through an unexpected trip while desperately wanting to feel sober and get a good night’s sleep, became the inspiration for the record.

Moving beyond personal experiences, “Quadrillion” explores themes of capitalist greed, extreme wealth and the realities of what it takes to become filthy rich. “War on Beat,” on the other hand, plays on Raymanna‘s humorous approach to confrontation, imagining a scenario where even a physical altercation would be carried out in rhythm rather than anger.

Closing out the track-by-track stories is “Eldritch Epiphany,” a record that initially had a much different concept. Raymanna originally envisioned exploring the idea of receiving innovative ideas and inspiration from another realm, particularly in art and invention. However, he eventually shifted the direction towards a more relatable fantasy of extreme wealth, luxury and spending money.

Through these stories, Raymanna gives listeners an intimate understanding of the experiences, spontaneous ideas and creative decisions behind his debut album. More than a collection of songs, the project reflects different moments in his life, bringing together humour, personal struggles, experimentation and imaginative storytelling.