Simi’s golden voice and her musical ingenuity

Simi, via Instagram

My boys and I sat on white chairs in a circle. It was 2019. Simis Simisola An album was playing on F’s speakers and G was passing around the doughnuts she had made for us. It was like a final full-circle moment: my friends from secondary school and I were listening to music together, laughing, reminiscing about our days in secondary school and which teachers we loved and which we hated. We recounted moments that had happened over 30 months ago as if they were yesterday. N was telling his story when F jumped up from his seat as Simi’s soft voice came from the speaker.

“So Joro, baby, take my number (take my number). You know, you can call me later (call me later). I wanna be your lover (be your lover). Oh, baby, call me later (call me later),” F sang along. F’s melodramatic reactions backed up our reactions to the infectious lyrics and we sang along to the chorus, even N joined in.

As we waited for the next song, JorominiF announced, “Simi is so good.” This simple sentence introduced me to the world of Simi. When I got home, I spent many hours on YouTube listening to her songs. I had heard her song, Tiffmany times before, but I could never put a face to it; it was just another popular song that my neighbor from the third house couldn’t stop playing. But as an avid listener, I have seen Simi grow and She experiments with different sounds, but one thing has always remained the same: her voice contributes to the quality of storytelling in her music.

Many artists experiment with different sounds and elements to stay relevant but I think what has helped Simi care relevance is how true she is to her art and does not adapt To fit into a narrative or satisfy consumer preferences. The artistout of Omo Charlie Champagne Vol. 1Simi delivers a monologue: “The artist is always under pressure from so many sides. He can never really escape it. Wherever you turn, something is always demanded of you – pressure from the managers, from the customers and also pressure from within. But my fear is: if you start to give in only to pressure from outside, your own art is no longer as authentic as it should be. And what sense does it make in the long run if an artist never says how he or she feels, but always says what everyone expects of him or her?” It’s one of the truest things I’ve ever heard as a writer.

In 2014, Simi gained great recognition with Tiffwe were introduced to her lyrical prowess and ability to seamlessly blend Afropop with soul and R&B. The success of “Simisola” was not just in the numbers, but also in how it resonated with listeners. It speaks to her ability to tell relatable stories through her music and combined with her unique voice, her songs became anthems for many.

Simi may not be one of Nigeria’s most awarded music artists, but her contributions to Afrobeats are unforgettable. Her commitment to authenticity and openness to experiment with different sounds have earned her a place among the best in the industry. Several songs have gained popularity due to her contributions.

Now she is back with a very confident album, Lost and found – the first cohesive work I have listened to this year. It is a work that is mainly about love and romance, but one identity shines through the album: confidence. In each track, Simi tells stories of a lover or a girl who is confident enough to choose what she wants with love. Each song tells the story of where the person is confident enough to choose to drown themselves in love, or confident enough to end a relationship. On X, she has described themselves as Album Artist and “Lost and Found” confirms this, because each song sounds like a continuation of the previous one.

Every song and album attests to Simi’s talent. She has shown time and again that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her music is constantly evolving and with each new release, she reaffirms her place as one of Nigeria’s most popular artists. She has proven her versatility and dedication to her craft and her contributions to Afrobeats have not only helped elevate the genre but also push its boundaries. Her voice is distinctive and influential; she blends traditional African sounds with contemporary elements to create a unique and refreshing style. Her ability to infuse her music with soulful melodies, heartfelt lyrics and a touch of R&B has set her apart from her peers and made her a crucial figure in the evolution of Afrobeats. I love her music so much. She is gold(er).