TEKNO Returns With Emotional New Album ‘Where Did Love Go?’

TEKNO returns with his third studio album Where Did Love Go?, a personal project that explores love and longing and emotional reflection. Across eight tracks he blends Afrobeats with Afropop as well as dancehall influences with his signature melodic style (and self-produced touch). The album marks both a creative comeback – and a reaffirmation of his influence on the global rise of Afrobeats.

Where Did Love Go? (emPawa Africa), features, among others, the singles “Bamboo,” “Press Button,” and “Matter” according to a press release from TEKNO’s team.

Stream/Listen to Where Did Love Go?

He set the tone for the rise of Afrobeats with his breakthrough hit “Pana.” He wrote and produced the song that made Davido a global superstar. Billie Eilish called him her favorite artist. Beyoncé and Drake called him to collaborate. Sir Elton John gave him his official seal of approval. Then, he disappeared—a victim of a rare medical condition that robbed him of his voice and health, forcing him to sit on the sidelines as the genre he helped build and popularize was exploding worldwide.

Although he later recovered from his illness and regained his vocals with the aid of an experimental surgery, TEKNO has remained an enigma, his story not widely known, even as his songs continue to reverberate around the world.  

Now, the elusive Nigerian star returns with Where Did Love Go?, his third album, and his first since joining Mr Eazi‘s groundbreaking independent music company emPawa Africa as an artist and investor. Largely self-produced, the project is TEKNO‘s most personal yet, with a renewed focus on romance and reflection, alongside the trademark hooks and melodies that have helped Tekno’s songs cross continents and language barriers to receive universal acclaim. 

TEKNO, whose production and songwriting credits also include Kizz Daniel’s pan-African anthem “Buga (Lo Lo)” and Ciara’s “Freak Me,” produced half of the songs on Where Did Love Go? himself, collaborating with fellow producers Yung Willis, D’Meek, Justopac, and Tino on the remaining tracks to create a sound that blends Afrobeats, Afropop, and dancehall influences with his signature melodic touch. 

The journey begins with “Bamboo,” a smooth, dancehall-inspired opener that eases listeners into the album’s atmosphere with warmth and familiarity. “Press Button,” produced by Nigerian hitmaker Yung Willis, injects a more energetic bounce while retaining the melodic ease that runs throughout the project. At the heart of the album is “Adaeze,“ the project’s focus track and emotional centerpiece. Produced by D’Meek and Justopac, the song finds TEKNO at his most vulnerable, reflecting on the frustration and uncertainty of loving someone who has suddenly grown distant. The self-produced “Matter” transforms loyalty into a singalong anthem built around the simple but effective declaration that the concerns of a loved one become your own. 

On “Port Au Prins,” TEKNO pushes devotion even further. Framed around the idea of crossing borders for love, the song sees him willing to leave everything behind in pursuit of the woman who occupies his thoughts. “Wedding Day,” produced by TEKNO and Tino, shifts the album into a more celebratory space, exploring commitment and the promise of forever while reflecting the natural progression of many of the emotions explored earlier in the project. 

The mood lightens on “Gently,” another self-produced record that embraces romance with an easygoing confidence. Produced by Yung Willis, the album closer “Avelay” wraps affection, responsibility, and generosity into a catchy, feelgood finale. Built around the phrase “I dey available,” it presents love as presence, showing up, providing, and being dependable when it matters most. 

Where Did Love Go? explores romance from multiple angles: desire, uncertainty, devotion, commitment, and responsibility. It is a reminder of why TEKNO remains one of Afrobeats’ most compelling voices and a master of translating everyday emotions into records that resonate far beyond the dancefloor.

Where Did Love Go? Tracklist

1. Bamboo (produced by Tekno)

2. Press Button (produced by Yung Willis)

3. Adaeze (produced by D’Meek and Justopac)

4. Matter (produced by Tekno)

5. Port Au Prins (produced by Tekno)

6. Wedding Day (produced by Tekno and Tino)

7. Gently (produced by Tekno)

8. Avelay (produced by Yung Willis)

About TEKNO

With over 2.5 billion streams and over 15 million social media followers, Nigerian artist, songwriter and producer Tekno is one of African music’s most essential voices. Since 2015, Tekno has consistently captivated global audiences with afropop classics including “Duro,” “Pana” and “Skeletun,” earning critical acclaim from Billboard and Rolling Stone, as well as high praise from international stars like Sir Elton John and Billie Eilish, who cited Tekno as her “favorite artist ever” in an interview with Vanity Fair. Tekno has also collaborated with pop royalty including Beyoncé, Drake and Ciara. His prowess extends beyond his vocal talents, as his production and songwriting skills have significantly shaped the rise of Afrobeats worldwide. He penned and produced Davido‘s global hit “If” and “Won’t Be Late” by Swae Lee and Drake, both of which achieved RIAA Gold certification. Kizz Daniel‘s “Buga (Lo Lo Lo),” which Tekno co-wrote and is a featured vocalist on, was the most streamed Afrobeats track of 2022, hitting No. 1 worldwide on Shazam. In 2023, his infectious hit single “Enjoy” was featured as the closing song in a Season 3 episode of the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso. 

Follow TEKNO:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teknomiles

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/alhajitekno

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tekno

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alhajitekno