NYC-based Malik English is fast cementing his status as a genre-bending rising star of the R&B scene. With roots in Trinidad and Nigeria, his sound transforms cultural heritage into rich atmospheres, enticing high-end tastemaker press, audiences at SXSW and Beyoncé, with English featuring in Black is King.
In ‘Tek Time’, the latest single to grace fans’ ears, Malik brings deep and warming 808s at the centre. Sensual vocal performances are laced with a romantic feel and confident, performative movement. The vocal processing is stylised and unique, letting Malik’s performance walk the line between melodic and spoken.
Harnessing a danceable afrobeat bounce, a sleek overtone and a vibrant arrangement, it’s some of his strongest work to date, achieved with a steadied tempo and love-drenched flair.
“The single, ‘Tek Time’ came to life after a trip to Trinidad,” Malik shares, “where I had the chance to explore parts of the island I hadn’t seen before. Being immersed in that environment, surrounded by the culture, music, and energy, I wanted to bring that influence into my own sound. I wanted to capture the feeling of falling in love in the club—that magnetic connection when you first meet someone and everything feels new and exciting. That experience, combined with my love for R&B and Afrobeats, shaped the sensual yet high-energy vibe of the song. It’s all about being locked into that early phase of love, where every moment feels like time stopped.”
Listen to ‘Tek Time’
