Discover: Oyinda, The British-Nigerian Singer That Deserves Your Attention
Discover is a continuous series on up-and-coming musicians you need to know. Not everyday afrobeat, sometimes, well… other stuff.
You may not be familiar with Oyinda (yet) but even as a fairly new artiste, her range and ability are not to be overlooked, as her music is that of a true superstar.
Her honest and hypnotic sound will engage you immediately, as she articulates emotions in a manner that other, more established artistes can only dream of.
Born in Washington, DC and raised in London, Oyinda is a legitimate triple threat, expressing her musical creativity as a singer, songwriter and producer.
Oyinda is in total control of her art and is actively involved in every part of the creative process. She even owns her own record label, Blood & Honey.
She released her first EP, Before The Fall in 2014, which featured moody and enigmatic songs with a clear sonic identity. Her second EP, Restless Minds followed suit, combining influences from electropop and indie rock.
The singer-songwriter was aptly described by Clash Music as:
“A newcomer with talent to burn. She specialises in emotive, husky, downbeat pop music. There’s an r&b side to her delivery, with Oyinda seeming to pour her being into each word.”
While Oyinda’s successes speak to her skills as a vocalist and songwriter, her parents’ initial skepticism proved to be an issue for her artistic growth. Being born to Nigerian parents who consider the arts as something to be done as a hobby, Oyinda had to prove her worth to them before they took her seriously.
This is a common experience for most African families. Regardless, it didn’t deter her vision or understanding of her role in the industry.
In a chat with Oxosi about her artistry, Oyinda said:
“I’m just out here really cementing the fact we, as black women, men, people of colour in general, can be represented in this art form.
I think it was really important to me to show my specific features and make sure everything is really clear — no bullshit, and to show that ‘other’ is there.”
We are looking forward to hearing more from this talent in the future, and until then we will be bopping to all she has already blessed us with.
