Interview: Uche
Uche lives by a golden rule: break the rules. The Chicago-raised, Nigerian heritage artist has carved out his distinct space that blends sharp lyricism with an atmospheric, ominous sonic vision that refuses to conform. With HOW TO DIE, the first half of his two-part album HOW TO LIVE/HOW TO DIE, Uche pulls no punches, delivering a project that explores destruction, transformation, and the space in between.
Uche sat down with NUANCE to discuss his new album HOW TO DIE, multi-cultural upbringing, and distinct creative vision.
When asked how he would describe his sound, Uche responds, “the word that comes to mind to me is disruptive. I’m a disrupter. I go against the grain. I move to the rhythm of my own drum. “
Discussing his new album, How to Die, and the title’s inspiration, Uche states: “In order to truly live, one may have to kill parts of their current self.” That tension sits at the heart of HOW TO DIE — a record that sees him confront his darkness head-on, embracing the chaos before emerging on the other side.
Uche elaborates, “I think it’s different for everybody. But I think that when we’re speaking on evolution--new versions of ourselves being born--that’s something that you can’t shy away from. In order to live, you can’t even be afraid to die--metaphorically speaking. So, letting go of relationships, friendships, situations, problems, solutions...I think that question will have a different answer for everyone who looks at it. But I think that’s a key part of evolution, and I’m learning to embrace it through these projects.”
Born in Chicago and raised in Lagos, Uche’s upbringing is at the core of his music. “I moved to Nigeria at age five, started school there, and returned to Chicago at age twelve. Growing up in both Chicago and Lagos--two gritty places from polar opposite ends of the spectrum--had a significant impact on my resilience and values,” he reflects.
Photo Credit: Sully @_sullman
That duality shaped his perspective, exposing him to gospel choirs in Lagos and the underground hip-hop scene in Chicago. But his connection to music wasn’t always clear-cut.
“I didn’t initially like music—it was forced on me,” he admits. That changed in 2008 when he heard Lil Wayne’s Mrs. Officer for the first time. From there, his appreciation deepened, building on the foundation of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston records he grew up with.
His evolution hasn’t been linear. Rebranding to simply “Uche” was a statement of self-definition.
“Uche is kind of like, iron out all the kinks. It’s more true to where I’m from, who I am, and where I’m going.”
Unlike most projects that move from struggle to resolution, Uche deliberately flips the script and starts with the story’s ultimate end: death. HOW TO DIE is an album built on friction—inner battles, temptations, and the reckoning that comes with self-examination. From the jump, tracks like “RICKY BOBBY” and “AWAKE” pull listeners into his high-energy, no-holds-barred world.
The album’s dark drive for change comes through in the production: heavy beats, warped synths, and a raw intensity that fuels songs like “Here I Go,” a track about ambition and the weight of expectation. “The beat was sent by my brother, who is a producer on the album, and the first take was used for the final recording,” he says, emphasizing the instinctual approach that defines his creative process.
The project also features “FN,” co-produced by 808 Mafia’s Pyrex Whippa (Future, Young Thug, Playboi Carti), a track that sharpens the balance between aggression and precision. By the time “sins above me” and “CRASH DUMMY” close out the album, the energy rises to a boiling point, embodying his push toward reinvention through metamorphosis.
Uche’s vision extends far beyond sound. His music videos have become a signature of his cinematic, layered, and thought-provoking artistry.
“The goal was to create a disruptive language in the video, splitting my past and future as an artist,” he says of his latest visuals.
Photo Credit: Sully @_sullman
Take “Here I Go,” filmed just before the LA fires. What started as a personal statement took on an unexpected weight after real-world chaos. Uche explains, “I wanted to create this disruptive language that could kind of split, on a personal level, everything--all the places that I’ve been as an artist, and the places that I’m going--split those two things apart and kind of create this river in between. It’s kind of like a big kid in the mosh pit. I wanted to kind of put my elbows out and kind of create the space that I need to exist in…”
“…But then, I also was aiming to address global angst, frustration, and chaos through the video... There’s a lot of frustration, there’s a lot of confusion. There’s also a lot of, chaos. And so I think I just opened my eyes and told the story, my story the way that you know the world is happening around me.” That collision of personal and external turmoil makes his work urgent, making each visual an extension of his storytelling.
Even as he experiments with AI in his creative process, Uche remains adamant that technology will never replace human artistry. “We used AI tools sparingly to polish the video, working with skilled cinematographers and animators,” he clarifies.
If HOW TO DIE is about embracing destruction, HOW TO LIVE promises to be its rebirth. Set for release in Spring 2025, the second half of the project will shift toward a more refined, assured sound—an artist stepping into his own after confronting the fire.
Uche’s rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. With early support from WONDERLAND, COLORS, BBC 1XTRA, RINSE FM, and NTS, he’s already building a global presence. But for him, success isn’t about accolades but impact.
“Allow the music to change and influence you metaphorically,” he says.
With HOW TO DIE setting the foundation, Uche’s next chapter is just beginning.