It was a hectic time in Elkan’s life, and the Sierra Leone-born producer’s phone was ringing constantly. Taking shelter from the deluge of calls, he begins to sing several times in the shower: “Who calls my phone?”
He recorded the chorus, which ultimately became the centerpiece of Drake’s “Nokia,” one of the biggest rap songs of the year. “It turns pain into praise,” Elkan says, calling the track a “miracle record” that “brings the fun back to the party and makes people forget the absurdities of their lives.” What started as a call to stay still turned into a joyful anthem about hitting the dance floor and calling your friends to get back in the action.
“Nokia” opens with this cooing: “Who’s calling my phone?” – before sliding into a bouncy retro beat that Drake skates to: “Where’s the function? In the background, marimba-like melodies are reminiscent of a mid-2000s ringtone, paired with R&B vocals and futuristic synths.
“When I make music, I always ask myself, ‘What does 2050 look like? What are my grandchildren going to dance to?'” Elkan says.
He began composing the rhythm for “Nokia” in his sister’s spare bedroom, sitting on the floor and playing with a MIDI keyboard. He was drawn to the catchy melodies of childhood. “I love lullabies. When I started doing music, I babysat my half-sister and I always listened to Cocomelon,” he says, referring to the children’s singing channel. “These melodies permeate my brain and it’s something I put into my music.” He also mentions Eurodance sensation Crazy Frog as inspiration: “It’s boring, but it’s memorable.” ‘
Eventually, Elkan sent the beat to Drake and was “euphoric” when he first heard the rapper’s verse. “It was something I had been working on for years,” he says. “Hearing the record was exciting.”
As for advice for other artists, Elkan says high-quality equipment is not essential to creating high-quality artwork. “A lot of producers and musicians are interested in the material,” he says. “Honestly, you don’t need any of that. It’s all up to you as a human.”
And in another memorable if annoying turn, the producer can barely call a friend these days without hearing his infectious catchphrase on the other line: “Who calls my phone?”
Authors-composers: Drake, Elkan
Producer: Elkan
Tags: OVO Sound, Santa Anna Records and République Records
Success creators:
Elkan, co-writer and producer
Theo Skudra, video director
Kelly Jeffrey, director of photography
Mr. Morgan, President, OVO
