Kenyan-American musician Lovince Mckenzie is bringing together East African and Nigerian sounds on his upcoming single Locked In, featuring Ugandan singer Joshua Baraka and Nigerian artiste Ayo Maff.
The collaboration sets the stage for Mckenzie’s forthcoming EP, Dance and Soul, as he continues to explore the intersection of African rhythms, emotional songwriting and global dance music.
For Mckenzie, Locked In builds on a growing catalogue that blends melodic storytelling with influences from Afrobeat, Afro-house and electronic music. It also reunites him with Ayo Maff, following their collaboration on Light Up, a release that introduced his music to a wider audience.
The addition of Baraka, one of the voices associated with Uganda’s contemporary music scene, extends the cross-border dimension of the new release, bringing together artists from Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria.
Rather than treating collaboration as a one-off encounter, Mckenzie is positioning the new single as part of a broader musical direction that connects artists and audiences across African markets.
His previous releases, including Lover, I Know You Know, Home, See Me, Vigelegele and My Heart, have explored romance, reflection and personal connection. With On My Way, he ventured further into Afro-house and melodic dance music, signalling an interest in sounds that can move between intimate listening and the dancefloor.
That versatility forms part of the foundation of Dance and Soul, a project built around the relationship between movement and emotion.
The EP traces themes of longing, vulnerability, resilience, belonging and freedom, reflecting Mckenzie’s ambition to create music that retains an emotional core while reaching listeners beyond national borders.
His Kenyan-American background also informs that ambition, with his music drawing on East African identity while engaging with wider contemporary African and international sounds.
With Locked In, Mckenzie brings together familiar creative chemistry and a new cross-border partnership.
The single marks another step towards Dance and Soul, as he works to establish a musical identity that balances African influences, personal storytelling and global dance appeal.