Ekep Nkwelle · The debut album
Caged Bird
A journey through sorrow, hope, and the freedom we find in music.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
MACK AVENUE RECORDS
“Caged Bird archives songs of suffering and survival. I hope to provide expression of necessary lament while equipping listeners with tools we, as humans, have always used to overcome in our lifelong pursuit of freedom and happiness: faith, art, and community.”
— Ekep Nkwelle
Personal truth.
Universal humanity.
With her debut album, Ekep Nkwelle brings her own story into focus across nine songs that move from sorrow toward possibility.
Inspired by Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Caged Bird explores hardship, resilience, and the pursuit of a better future—held together by the power of music to carry us forward.
After appearances at Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, and North Sea Jazz Festival, this recording marks a new chapter for her voice.
Album Credits
Musicians
- Ekep Nkwelle
- Vocals · All tracks
- Luther Allison
- Piano · Tracks 1–2
Percussion · Track 6 - Julius Rodriguez
- Piano · Tracks 3–9
- Russell Hall
- Upright bass · Tracks 2–9
- Brian Richburg Jr
- Drums · Tracks 2–9
Tambourine · Track 6
Production
- Produced by Ekep Nkwelle
- Recorded December 19–21, 2025
Second Take Sound · New York, NY - Recording engineer · Chris Allen
- Second Take Sound · New York, NY
- Mixing & mastering · Chris Allen
- Second Take Sound / Studio B
New York, NY
Tracklist
- His Eye Is on the Sparrow
- Caged Bird
- Night Song
- Amazon Farewell
- Good Morning, Heartache
- Early One Mornin'
- The Sad Ones
- The Creator Has a Master Plan
- See See Rider