-
People always tell me to smile more – CKay
Nigerian singer CKay recently opened up about the public’s perception of his smile, sharing insights into why he doesn’t feel compelled to project constant happiness.
In a conversation on the ‘Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan, CKay acknowledged that he often receives compliments on his smile, with many people suggesting he should smile more.
When Akan asked about how people typically react to his smile, CKay responded, “A recurrent review of my smile is that I have a nice smile and I should smile more, like I don’t smile enough.” He speculated that the perception might stem from fans mostly seeing him in pictures, where he doesn’t always smile.
This, he believes, could lead people to assume he’s less cheerful than he might be in person.
CKay linked his reserved demeanour to the creative process behind his upcoming album, revealing that he wasn’t in a particularly happy place while working on it. For him, music should capture the full spectrum of human emotions—both positive and negative.
“I wasn’t smiling when I started working on this album; the mood was reality,” he explained, adding that always smiling isn’t realistic and that creating art involves embracing both highs and lows. “Making music only about the positive things, it won’t be realistic,” CKay stated.
He emphasized that for him, authenticity in music means reflecting life’s full range of emotions, allowing his art to resonate deeply with listeners who experience similar ups and downs.
Watch the full interview below: