While the landscape of Nigerian music culture shifts and evolves, a new league of female artists are carving out distinct paths for themselves, some in familiar territory, others on roads less travelled. This is an era where the boundaries of genre are inconsequential, and an allegiance to identity over convention has become the grounding force behind the music. With these projects each artist draws a map to self, using everything from fuji to indie rock as means to navigate the evergreen themes of love, life, struggle and faith.
Featured in this edition of In Her Own Lane are Sade Olutola, a 22-year-old singer-songwriter based in South London, producer and singer-songwriter Efe Oraka, alt-pop singer-songwriter Esoterica, afro-fusion artist Kosi and Lodù, an afro-soul singer, songwriter and producer.
Sade Olutola- Arrow Heart
British Nigerian singer-songwriter Sade Olutola blends alt-RnB, bedroom pop, indie rock and even a bit of rap into a sweet, nostalgic melting pot. Her debut EP “Arrow Heart” is angsty and evocative, collapsing coming-of-age film motifs into dreamy sonic portals. Only recently putting her music on streaming platforms, Sade draws inspiration from simpler times. Thus, “Arrow Heart” reflects the younger version of herself, the girl who listened to music on MP3 players, used Tumblr religiously and fangirled over Ed Sheeran. This quote from her interview with The Culture Crypt summarizes Sade’s vision for “Arrow Heart” best: "I want it to feel like I'm singing live to you in your bedroom. That's always the goal—for it to feel like I'm sitting next to you, singing to you.”
Recommended Tracks: Grey Matter, Don’t Bother, Ready 4 It
Efe Oraka- Eferoghene
A precursor to her upcoming debut album, Efe Oraka’s mixtape “Eferoghene” is a tasteful compilation of songs that encapsulate her journey as an artist. Although it is wrapped in softness, there is an unmistakable grit that underlies this project, reflecting the resilience the singer developed during periods of struggle and uncertainty. For those with a bad case of pop nostalgia, this project is the perfect remedy. There is a touch of her predecessors in Efe Oraka’s vocal delivery; the sass and soulful crooning of early 2000s afrobeats songstresses comes through beautifully on tracks like “Gimme Your Luv” and “Turnup444me”. “Whine Me” is reminiscent of Destiny Child’s pop-adjacent RnB stylings, while “INoGoLie” takes the soft indie rock route. Even as she dabbles in these various influences, Efe Oraka’s artistic persona remains potent and irresistible, shining through on each track with brilliant clarity.
Recommended Tracks: Whine Me, Turnup444me, INoGoLie
Esoterica- Avant God
Lagos-based singer-songwriter Esoterica’s experimental debut EP “Avant God” defies genre. She creates with a divergent approach that shines through on this project, trapezing fluidly from sound to sound without fully settling on one. On “So Easy” she lands briefly in the realm of spacey dance pop, before swinging into the soft indie notes of “Faith”. In contrast,“Famous” finds its roots in the rousing, nostalgic world of 2010s rock music. Her voice is an instrument in its own right, shifting and changing to accommodate the various sounds featured in this expansive musical landscape.
Recommended Tracks: So Easy, Famous, Decisions (feat. SGaWD)
Lodù- Wine & Honey
Producer and singer-songwriter Lodù’s sound is built on heavenly harmonies and Yoruba folk music with neo-soul influences. Her debut EP “Wine & Honey” is decadent and soulful, weaving ethereal melodies with themes of love and romance. True to its name, “Wine & Honey” includes only the sweet parts, exploring romance in its most utopic form. Heartbreak does not exist in Lodù’s world, and the listener is able to bask in the in-between reality for the duration of the project. The record is sung almost exclusively in Yoruba, with each song carrying a distinct energy that defies language barriers and bridges the gap between retro and contemporary eras.
Recommended Tracks: Olówó Orími, Follow, Ifemi (feat. DOTTi The Deity)
Kosi.- Up Till 5
Singer-songwriter Kosi’s EP “Up Till 5” finds its sound in a world without borders, one where afro fusion, RnB, EDM and even fuji intersect to create a project inspired by nocturnal yearning. Each song captures the energy of the hour it is inspired by; 1am mimics the dissonance between a broken heart and a body that yearns to dance those feelings away, 2am leans into more sultry energy and 3am reflects the frenzied overthinking associated with that hour. By the time the haunting notes of 5am roll around, acceptance dawns. Kosi is a formidable alchemist, transmuting each feeling she explores into infectious, compelling melodies.
Recommended Tracks: 1am, 5am
