The new school stars from the Nigerian music scene have been phenomenal. A teeming army of stars, totally unafraid of set standards and the status quo, breaking barriers daily, with unique genre-bending sounds. A prime example of a standing soldier in this teeming army is Somadina.
Somadina endeared herself to many with her debut EP “Five Hearts,” a project that was shortly removed from streaming platforms. But those who were privileged to listen to the project were hooked on the EP’s beautiful and sad musical interpretation of the different stages of grief. Somadina’s haunting vocals and soulful lyrics perfectly capture the emotional turmoil of loss. With great determination, she continued to work on her music and released her first official single in 2018, “I Hate You (IHY),” and “Lay Low” in 2019.
With the cult-like fanbase she built, she released an official debut EP in 2022, “Heart of the Heavenly Undeniable” (HOTHU). The EP was a widespread success, skyrocketing the young prodigy far away from the shores of Africa onto the world stage. This earned her a major performance, opening for CKay on a show in his “Sad Romance Tour.” She is also running her own tour that started in May, performing in major cities of the world, such as Berlin, London, Accra, and even opening for Asa at her sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall.
Her unique blend of R&B, punk, and alternative rock music gives her a branch of Alté steeze in her style. Another major achievement she has bagged is her song “I Saw an Angel on the Roof & Wept” being remixed by Kitty Amor, which was dropped on the same day as her Asa show opening. Not forgetting her nomination at the 16th Edition of the Headies award for Best Alternative Album alongside heavyweights like Santi, Obongjayar, Boj, and Basketmouth.
She has also been listed to perform at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, placing her among her fellow new school leaders like Rema and Tems. It also places her among larger-scale greats like Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and Lana Del Rey, who are also making appearances on the show.
Somadina is a groundbreaking artist who is breaking new ground in the Nigerian music scene. Her soaring falsetto and eclectic sound have made her a force to be reckoned with, and her appearance at Lollapalooza 2023 is a testament to her talent and dedication.
