I’ve known Ike Ndolo for 20 years, and when we first met, he didn’t know how to play a single chord on the guitar. But in September 2018, Ike released his third album, “Shine” – and it is beautiful.
Time is truly amazing, and Ike’s journey reminded me of this quote from Colin Powell: “A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” And the more you get to know Ike, the more applicable this quote becomes.
Ike grew up in Missouri as the son of Nigerian immigrants and, according to his bio, “the life of Ike Ndolo is a woven tapestry of experiences: hymns and Bob Marley, injustice and mercy, discrimination and acceptance. As a result, Ike has become a well-tested navigator of the human experience.”
His goal is to share and guide listeners through stories that inform and even reorient their perspective. His music harkens back to his soulful gospel roots, mixing it with new wave R&B, modern influences, and a few choice synth beats to create something “that musically mirrors the many worlds he walks through daily.”
When you listen to Ike’s music, he wants you to explore what you think about yourself, consider your negative perceptions, and then choose to SHINE.
“We’re all afraid of the unknown and what the world has to offer. But more than that, we’re afraid of what we have to offer. We’re afraid of what’s inside and who we are. We’re afraid of our potential and what we could be and what we’re supposed to be. We’re afraid of how brightly we can shine.”
We bury what we want to do, what we can do, under what we feel we ought to do; what’s right, what’s proper, what’s normal. We get so bogged down in these ideas that we never take a risk, look inside ourselves, and figure out what we truly have to offer the world.
“Out of darkness and despair and doubt and rejection, shine” – and don’t let that shine be taken away from you.
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