Icarus by Iniko
The song begins with the phrase, "I have died a million times in the dark and in the night," an immediate juxtaposition to the pop beat. It is clear that the writer's feelings are not in harmony with the desire to dance that arises when the beat first drops. They go on to say, "my ego put up a bloody fight, and in death I did arise." In this statement, they convey the notion of spiritual rebirth and the ideals surrounding life and death. The song, titled Icarus, depicts the age-old myth of the god who flew too close to the sun—a tale of caution about pride. Iniko explores the death of their ego, suggesting that this process should not be mourned, but rather celebrated, for in the death of their pride, something far more profound has awoken: understanding. As shown by their later lyrics, "I saw kingdom come, now I know what must be done," Iniko illustrates the concept of continuity, life after death.
The song is preceded by track two, The King's Affirmation, which speaks to the confidence Iniko initially expressed at the start of their career, citing, "I will be one of the greatest; that is a vow, yes, that is a promise." There is something special to be taken away from The King's Affirmation in relation to Icarus in the tracklist. It speaks to the very concept the myth explores: a warning about the consequences of arrogance in ambition. Iniko affirmed their intention to become great. They initially rose to fame in the midst of the pandemic with The King's Affirmation. The song was a freestyle that went viral on TikTok. They quickly gained popularity but failed to release the song amidst the rush of publicity. The King's Affirmation was released months later, but by then, momentum around the song had faltered. The song acts as a reflection of their ego’s last attempt to save itself, which they later present in Icarus as a chance for a fresh start. In this way, they position falling as a marker of having flown in the first place.
Although the most widespread moral of the myth is to avoid hubris and warn of the dangers of ambition, Iniko projects the part of the story that everyone seems to ignore: Icarus laughed as he fell. Too often, failure is conveyed as a negative experience to be avoided at all costs. Failure is considered to be the be-all and end-all, made somehow synonymous with the permanence of death, rather than an opportunity for a new beginning. Iniko speaks to their tenacity as an artist, drawing on themes of revival throughout the later songs of the album, presenting novel sounds while maintaining the soul in their voice that initially drew people to their work.
Sheena Igbiri
Sources:
https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/iniko.html
https://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseastewart/iniko-interview-buzzfeed-black-history-month
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