Attih Soul

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Attih Ekpenyong.jpg

| birth_name = Attih Ekpenyong

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|02|13}}

| birth_place = Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| instrument = Guitar, keyboard, vocals

| years_active = 2011 - present

}}

Attih Ekpenyong, known professionally as Attih Soul, is a Nigeria-born singer, songwriter and musician currently based in Barcelona, Spain. He is also known for performing at events such as World Music Day at the French Institute in Nigeria, where he received the "Best Performing Group" award alongside The A-Team,{{Cite web |last=Abulude |first=Samuel |date=2023-07-29 |title=Attih Soul: An Unstoppable Musical Journey From Nigeria To Spain |url=https://leadership.ng/attih-soul-an-unstoppable-musical-journey-from-nigeria-to-spain/ |access-date=2023-08-05 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805235306/https://leadership.ng/attih-soul-an-unstoppable-musical-journey-from-nigeria-to-spain/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-29 |title=Nigeria - Born Singer taking over Barcelona with music team |url=https://nigerianpilot.news/2023/07/29/nigeria-born-singer-taking-over-barcelona-with-music-team/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805235308/https://nigerianpilot.news/2023/07/29/nigeria-born-singer-taking-over-barcelona-with-music-team/ |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=nigerianpilot.news |language=en-US}} and the Road to Yalta Music Festival, where he was awarded a Golden Microphone by Lev Leshchenko.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-10-02 |title=Attih Soul bags double masters degree in Barcelona |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/attih-soul-bags-double-masters-degree-in-barcelona/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103514/https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/attih-soul-bags-double-masters-degree-in-barcelona/ |url-status=live }}

Early life and education

Ekpenyong was born in 1990 in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=Attih Soul Set To Release First Single Off Album |url=https://leadership.ng/attih-soul-set-to-release-first-single-off-album/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121103817/https://leadership.ng/attih-soul-set-to-release-first-single-off-album/ |archive-date=2022-01-21 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=leadership.ng}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-15 |title=International Artist Urges youths to be forthright |url=https://nationalupdate.com.ng/international-artist-urges-youths-to-be-forthright/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415074132/https://nationalupdate.com.ng/international-artist-urges-youths-to-be-forthright/ |archive-date=2021-04-15 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=National Update}}

Ekpenyong graduated from the University of Calabar with a bachelor's degree in medical biochemistry.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-10 |title=Attih Soul Set To Thrill Fans In Album Launch Concert |url=https://www.naijavoicenews.com/attih-soul-set-to-thrill-fans-in-album-launch-concert/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113041145/https://www.naijavoicenews.com/attih-soul-set-to-thrill-fans-in-album-launch-concert/ |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=Naijavoicenews |language=en-US}} Ekpenyong also earned a dual master's degree in international talent management and leadership from Barcelona Executive Business School and Catholic University of Murcia.

Career

Ekpenyong began his music career in 2011 by singing at open mic events. He competed on reality singing competitions like Nigerian Idol, Voice Cross River, and Project Fame West Africa.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-24 |title=Attih Soul Releases First Single Off His New Album |url=https://von.gov.ng/2022/02/22/attih-soul-releases-first-single-off-his-new-album/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224055554/https://von.gov.ng/2022/02/22/attih-soul-releases-first-single-off-his-new-album/ |archive-date=2022-02-24 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Voice of Nigeria}}

In 2017, Ekpenyong was chosen by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to write and perform the theme song for Nigeria's Democracy Day.{{Cite web |last=erezi |first=dennis |date=2020-09-30 |title=Attih Soul, Otta Orchestra thrill at RMF |url=https://thestreetjournal.org/attih-soul-otta-orchestra-thrill-at-rmf/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Street Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103518/https://thestreetjournal.org/attih-soul-otta-orchestra-thrill-at-rmf/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Attih Soul shines bright in RMF |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/attih-soul-shines-bright-in-rmf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103517/https://thenationonlineng.net/attih-soul-shines-bright-in-rmf/ |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |access-date= |website=thenationonlineng.net}} In the same year, Soul performed his first international concert in South Africa and released his first single, "Say You Love Me".{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=ATTIH SOUL - Artenzza Discovering Artists |url=https://artenzza.com/attih-soul-interview-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113041147/https://artenzza.com/attih-soul-interview-2/ |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=Artenzza |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2017-10-14 |title=Attih Soul - Say You Love Me |url=https://ngdailynews.ng/attih-soul-say-love/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=ngdailynews.ng |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113041722/https://ngdailynews.ng/attih-soul-say-love/ |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Ekpenyong performed alongside Yaroslav Sumishevskiy and the Otta Orchestra at the Road to Yalta Music Festival in Yalta, Russia. After performing, he was awarded a cash prize, an award of excellence, and a Golden Microphone by Russian singer Lev Leschenko, who served as the event's chairman of the jury.{{Cite web |title=Дорога на Ялту - Новости |url=https://doroganayaltu.ru/news/itogi-festivalya-i-obyavlenie-pobediteley/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=doroganayaltu.ru |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103516/https://doroganayaltu.ru/news/itogi-festivalya-i-obyavlenie-pobediteley/ |url-status=live }}

In February 2022, Ekpenyong released a titled "Friendzone".{{Cite web |title=Feel-Good Vibes From Attih Soul With Friendzone - Neon Music - Digital Music Discovery & Showcase Platform |url=https://neonmusic.co.uk/feel-good-vibes-from-attih-soul-with-friendzone/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=neonmusic.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103515/https://neonmusic.co.uk/feel-good-vibes-from-attih-soul-with-friendzone/ |url-status=live }} In the same year, he released a second single, titled "Someday I'll Find You".{{Cite web |date=2022-05-28 |title=Singer Attih Soul Set To Release Second Single |url=https://leadership.ng/singer-attih-soul-set-to-release-second-single/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103519/https://leadership.ng/singer-attih-soul-set-to-release-second-single/ |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |access-date= |website=leadership.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Abuchi |first=Joe |date=2022-05-31 |title=Attih Soul Thrills fans with New Single |url=https://authorityngr.com/2022/05/31/attih-soul-thrills-fans-with-new-single/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=THE AUTHORITY NEWS |language=en-US |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103518/https://authorityngr.com/2022/05/31/attih-soul-thrills-fans-with-new-single/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2023, Ekpenyong signed a management deal with the French management company Talent and Skills,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-26 |title=International Artist Signs Fresh Deal With French Company - Attih Soul · Naijavoicenews |url=https://www.naijavoicenews.com/international-artist-signs-fresh-deal-with-french-company-attih-soul/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Naijavoicenews |language=en-US |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103516/https://www.naijavoicenews.com/international-artist-signs-fresh-deal-with-french-company-attih-soul/ |url-status=live }} and also released the acoustic EP The Acoustic Experiment.{{Cite web |last=Skope |date=2023-06-23 |title=Fast Rising Superstar Attih Soul Releases New Acoustic EP "The Acoustic Experiment" |url=https://skopemag.com/2023/06/23/fast-rising-superstar-attih-soul-releases-new-acoustic-ep-the-acoustic-experiment |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Skope Entertainment Inc |language=en-US |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103516/https://skopemag.com/2023/06/23/fast-rising-superstar-attih-soul-releases-new-acoustic-ep-the-acoustic-experiment |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Shun social cices, Attih Soul urges youths |url=https://theworldnews.net/ng-news/shun-social-cices-attih-soul-urges-youths |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Shun social cices, Attih Soul urges youths |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723103518/https://theworldnews.net/ng-news/shun-social-cices-attih-soul-urges-youths |url-status=live }}

In November 2023, Ekpenyong performed a concert in Barcelona to promote his album Shades of Emotion,{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Attih Soul thrills audience at album launch |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/11/attih-soul-thrills-audience-at-album-launch/ |website=vanguardngr.com |access-date=November 27, 2023 |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129052237/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/11/attih-soul-thrills-audience-at-album-launch/ |url-status=live }} which was released in the same month.{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Onu |date=2023-11-27 |title=Singer Attih Soul drops debut album |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/646893-singer-attih-soul-drops-debut-album.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127192635/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/646893-singer-attih-soul-drops-debut-album.html |url-status=live }} He also held a concert in Barcelona along with Sadie and Werio.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-12 |title=Attih Soul Perform Incredibly At Album Launch Concert · Naijavoicenews |url=https://www.naijavoicenews.com/attih-soul-perform-incredibly-at-album-launch-concert/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212182954/https://www.naijavoicenews.com/attih-soul-perform-incredibly-at-album-launch-concert/ |archive-date=December 12, 2023 }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-12-11 |title=Attih Soul Excites Audience At Album Launch Concert In Spain |url=https://leadership.ng/186823-2/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |language=en-US}}