SuperSmashBroz explore the mechanics of self-love on new single 'Go Dumb'

This is an exclusive song premiere, part of WBUR's effort to highlight New England musicians.

A few years ago, brothers Muyi and Noma Okundaye were in the studio about to record the last track of the night. “We had just created seven or eight records back to back,” says Noma. “The energy was winding down and everybody was tired. Then, I remember receiving a melody from one of our friends, one of our co-producers.”

The duo, who perform under the moniker SuperSmashBroz, got to work and it organically coalesced into a song. "The immediate reaction in the room was kind of just crazy. Everybody was just kind of like, 'Whoa, did we just stumble upon a hit?'” The song from that night eventually became “Go Dumb,” SuperSmashBroz’s latest single from their forthcoming album “Loved Ones,” out Oct. 25.

“Go Dumb” is a bouncy track that seamlessly intertwines a laid-back delivery from London-born rapper Tobes44 with a layered bouquet of percussive elements and a simple, catchy guitar riff. The SuperSmashBroz are Nigerian and the musical influence of their country is apparent in other parts of their discography but stands out on this track.

“Initially when I first got the melody, it instantly inspired me and took us back to our roots,” says Noma. “It just reminded me of Fela Kúti instantly, and it kind of inspired the drum pattern that we decided to go with.”

At its core, “Go Dumb” is an upbeat song, one that has an undeniable groove that makes it hard to sit still. “It was kind of just a simple, fun record, that high energy,” says Muyi. “Something that feels good that makes you want to just immediately kind of move.”

When it comes to getting people moving and dancing, SuperSmashBroz are known for doing just that. As DJs, they’ve graced stages across the world, from Boston to Ghana. Others may know them for their musical collaborations with local artists like Cousin Stizz and Michael Christmas. “We DJ as well as produce, so there’s some people who only know us from the DJ landscape … and there’s people who know us as musicians,” Muyi says. “We just want to show people so people can get a better sense of how much we do and how we provide more than just music.”

The brothers see their forthcoming album as an opportunity to showcase who they are, beyond the turntables and outside of the studio. While “Go Dumb” is certainly a buoyant track, it’s also a song about love — self-love to be exact. The repeated refrain of “Be smart/ go dumb” in the song is a simple yet loaded turn of phrase, emphasizing the importance of trying as hard as possible in one’s life and taking risks while still making smart decisions.

With an album titled "Loved Ones," it might seem obvious that it delves so deeply into the topic. “This album does a good job of highlighting the different levels and phases of love,” says Noma. “Whether it be platonic relationships, romantic relationships or family relationships.” The brothers describe the general feel of the album as an “Afro-swing type of vibe, with a touch of Western sounds and Western influences as well.”

Aside from exploring love, the album is also a reminder that there are common human experiences that connect all of us. “That’s the beauty of music,” Muyi says. “We all go through the same problems one way or another, even if they're not exactly the exact same. Everybody deals with love, everybody deals with happiness, everybody deals with loss, everybody deals with grief, everybody deals with heartbreak in one way or another.”

Note: The audio for WBUR's music premieres comes down after the track is released. You could still listen to the track via the streaming service embed above.