UK Afro frontrunner Darkoo drops her much anticipated new EP, “$exy Girl $ummer (Vol.1)”, and takes Wonderland through the track-list.
Darkoo is on a sun-drenched upwards slope to stardom. A sure-fire household name in the UK’s burgeoning Afro scene, since emerging in 2019, the artist has delivered colour-laden and charisma-fuelled releases, breaking big last year with viral hit “Favourite Girl”, which was augmented by a remix featuring African juggernaut Rema.
The track features on Darkoo’s all new EP, “$exy Girl $ummer (Vol.1)”, an eight-pronged opus that shoots her acclaim onto a whole new playing field. Also boasting popular singles “Focus On Me” and “Right Now”, the work cements her place in the highest echelons of contemporary Afro sonics, showcasing her dynamic vocal approach and an array of vibrant production from the likes of Rvssian and Fr3nch. To find out more, Darkoo stops by Wonderland to offer a full track-by-track rundown.
Listen to the EP…
Read the track-by-track…
“Like Dat”
This one started as just a fun freestyle, but as soon as we laid the beat down, I knew it had that viral feel. It’s bright, playful, pure summer energy. People started making TikToks before it was even finished! It’s the type of track you blast with the windows down, headed to a link-up or the beach. I wanted it to feel alive—like the first day of summer.
“Stay”
I wrote “Stay” during a writing trip in Zanzibar. It was giving romance, but with mystery—like that first night when you meet someone who’s clearly fronting, but you can feel the vibe. I didn’t want it to be too soft, though. It’s still flirty, still bold. Once I recorded the hook, I knew it had that seductive energy. She didn’t plan to stay, but the connection was too strong.
“Psycho” ft. Victony
This track honestly caught me by surprise. Victony came through for a session, and when he laid his verse, the energy was just crazy. I built the rest of the track around that—it needed to be wild, unpredictable, a little unhinged. That’s how “Psycho” came together. It’s one of those songs that feels like a party and a fever dream at the same time. Pure chaos, but the fun kind.
“Focus On Me”
This one was a journey. We had clearance issues at first because of the P-Square sample, but I had to use it—it’s part of the culture. Once we sorted that, everything just clicked. The beat has that dancehall x Afrobeats bounce that makes you move without thinking. Lyrically, it’s all about stepping into the room like you’re the one to watch. Every girl wants to feel like that, right?
“Your Number”
My favourite record on the EP has to be “Your Number”. Sampling 9ice’s Gongo Aso—which I honestly believe is top 10 Afrobeats of all time—wasn’t just a creative choice, it was a responsibility. That song holds weight in the culture, and I wanted to pay full respect to its legacy while telling my own story through it, flipping it with a feminine twist. I feel like I really did it justice—kept the nostalgia alive but added a fresh perspective, a new energy. It’s not easy touching a classic, but this one felt right. Full of Lagos energy, if you know you know! I’m proud of it.
“Options”
We made this one in Zanzibar too, and the vibe in that camp was different—real carefree energy. Options is all about having choices and not apologising for it. Love, life, whatever—it’s about moving how you want, not how they expect you to. It’s giving baddie with boundaries. I wanted the beat to feel light but still hit. This one’s for the girls who know they’re the prize.
“Favourite Girl” ft. Rema
Me and Rema had been talking about doing something for a minute, and this just felt right. The second we laid the hook, I was like, yeah, this is the one. It’s got that sunny, flirty, pull-up-in-a-drop-top kinda vibe. I was picturing all the baddies in yellow when we made it—that confident, no-stress energy. It’s feel-good, it’s sexy, and it just works.
“Right Now” ft. Davido
This came from a random DM—Davido hit me like, “Yo, I love this, let’s work.” Next thing you know, we’re in the studio building it out together. Right Now is smooth, but there’s a tension to it. It’s emotional, but still sexy. I wanted it to sound like temptation. One of those records where you know it’s a little dangerous, but you still hit play anyway.
