“I don’t believe we ever stop finding ourselves. If you’re willing to look, there’s always more.”— Simi
Nigerian singer-songwriter Simi, one of the most unique voices in the music industry, has released her sixth studio album, “Lost and Found.” This follows her previously released albums, “To Be Honest” (2022), “Omo Charlie Champagne” (2019), “Simisola” (2017), the collaborative project “Chemistry” with Falz (2017), and her debut album “Ojaju” from way back in 2008. Seven years after her debut Afro-pop project, Simi has established a remarkable career as a prominent female artist, pushing the boundaries of Nigerian R&B and soul music.
Her unique sound and powerful lyrics have resonated with fans worldwide, earning her a spot at No. 5 on the Billboard World Albums Chart with popular songs and high-quality projects. She also went on tour with Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys.
In a sit-down with Marie Claire Nigeria, Simi takes us through the journey of envisioning and creating “Lost and Found.”
Congratulations on your new album, Simi! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind it and the creative process you went through?
“Lost and Found,” the album, is a symbol of where I am in my journey as an artist, reconnecting with my melodies, with my style, with the authentic Simi, the Simi that most people fell in love with and finding a way to reconcile her with all the parts of her that she has also grown to love.
It’s been a while since you had a project out. How do you feel about this one?
My last album was two years ago, and how I feel about this one is pretty much the way I feel about all my albums. Everything I put out is representative of how I’m feeling. My last album, “To Be Honest,” was very personal and cathartic for me. Now, this is about me reconnecting with my passion for music.
Describe this album with one word.
One word describing this album would be nostalgic.
Your music often touches on themes of love, self-discovery, and empowerment. How do these themes resonate with your journey as an artist and woman?
Yeah, of course. These themes are personal to me. I love love. I like to see love, and I like to see other people genuinely love each other. I like to be shown love, and I like to show love. I’m also passionate about being empowered and empowering other people as much as possible.
I think that music is a universal language, and to be able to put these things I’m passionate about in a form that lives forever is something that I would do over and over again.
In what ways do you feel your music has evolved since your last album? Are there any new genres or styles you’ve explored in this latest project?
I’ve explored all the genres that matter to me or are important to me. And now I just kind of merge as much as possible. There are fusions there, and they stand out. I was not heavily focused on experiments because I just wanted to do songs that I enjoyed making.
I wasn’t trying to prove that I could do something else because I already know what I’m capable of, so this wasn’t about experimenting, but there’s something there for everybody.
What’s the deepest emotion you felt when creating this body of work?
The most profound emotion I felt making this album was one of purpose when writing “Lost and Found.” It was one of the last few songs I wrote, and I was so glad I could express that message because it was so true. Everyone who has seen life connects to it. You’ll know what I’m saying when you listen to the song.
In what ways do you think your background and heritage influence your music and your approach to songwriting?
I don’t know that my background and history have affected me because I didn’t grow up with many people who knew music. I had to explore that love for music on my own. So, I can’t say that my background impacted my music right now because I didn’t have much music background, especially in my childhood.
You’ve always been vocal about issues affecting women and society. How do you incorporate your advocacy into your music?
If you listen to me, you know that I sing about women quite often. Like I said, music is my language. Music is my voice. And so, if something is important to me, I will most likely put it in a song.
This album, “Lost and Found,” has a song dedicated to women, and it’s not just about advocacy. Sometimes, it’s not about being strong. It’s just giving people a channel to feel things. For instance, if I’m sad today, I will listen to that song, and if I feel strong today as a woman, I will listen. So sometimes that’s all it is. It’s just a channel. So people can have something to put their feelings on.
The Discovery Issue is all about uncovering new talents and stories. Can you share a moment of discovery or realisation that significantly impacted your career?
I wouldn’t say it was a discovery that gave me an epiphany or anything. I knew that very early on, there was a way they expected women to be, but I wasn’t trying to be any of those things. I just wanted to be me. Knowing who I was and acknowledging other people’s opinions about me did not help decide who I was, my values, or my talents. It just helped me to continue being firm in my authenticity. Again, we keep finding parts of ourselves, and just continuing to discover parts of myself always makes me feel so much more empowered, strong, capable, free, and true.
In other words, there was no ‘one thing’ that happened to me that I knew was going to happen; for me, it’s a continual process.
If this album were a thesis, who would you dedicate it to?
If this album were a thesis, I would dedicate it to the Simi Army, especially the OG Simi Army. They’ve been in my corner on my best days, my not-so-great days, my quiet days, and my loud days. They’re constants. Like I said, this album is very nostalgic. So, this is dedicated to the Simi Army.
Collaboration is a big part of the music industry. Are there any artists or producers you worked with on this album that you felt particularly connected with?
This album has more artist collaborations than I’ve ever had on any other project, and I’m not one to just do things, so I connected with all the artists on a different level. All the songs mean different things to me.
That’s why if anybody asked me what my favourite is, I don’t have one. I could connect with all the artists that I featured. I mainly worked with one producer. I had about four producers, but one producer made about 10 songs. So, that connection is important to me as well because if I cannot connect with you, then I can’t work with you.
Your lyrics often feel deeply personal and relatable. How do you balance vulnerability with the need to maintain privacy?
I have personal songs, but most are more generic or intended to tell a story. So I’m not vulnerable to public consumption. And when I am, you probably won’t know it.
So, I think I’m good. I would share things that I know are safe to share because human beings are monsters of entertainment. They would do anything to be entertained. People don’t generally care about how you feel or how something impacts you.
I refuse to be the people’s entertainment unnecessarily, except for the music I’m giving them, so I’m good.
What message do you hope your fans take away from your new album?
“Lost and Found” is not necessarily an album of lessons to take, but the song “Lost and Found” is self-explanatory. There is a saying that sometimes the dark has to come for you to appreciate the light. So, it’s so easy to demonise the dark sometimes or the hard days, and nobody wants hard days, but sometimes that teaches us how to appreciate the things we have or fight for things we want. Sometimes, you have to get lost in the steps to understand the value of being found.
That’s generally what that song means, but this album is not about lessons. It’s just about people enjoying me and taking from me something that nobody else can give them.
How do you stay true to your artistic vision while navigating the commercial aspects of the music industry?
I’m not an artist for the industry. I’m an artist for my art. You know, that’s me.
I don’t struggle with trying to do what the industry demands, and I’ve never really conformed. I make music I like and get it to me, then to my fans.
Can you share some behind-the-scenes stories or experiences from making this album that fans might find interesting?
One behind-the-scenes story is that before I did “Borrow Me Your Baby” with Falz, he had recorded two other songs because I didn’t have one yet. Then, I sent him one song I liked, but it was just a bad fit for the album. It was too difficult for the album. So, I went back to him to do another song.
The funny thing is that he liked the second one, but I didn’t, so I sent another song. He didn’t seem as excited about it, but I think he did it anyway because we’re guys. When we were listening back to the album, I was like, “Nah, this song is my weakest link.” I was not enthusiastic about the song, but I knew Falz had to be on my album.
I had the idea for “Borrow Me Your Baby” long ago, but I didn’t know how to make it into a song. I knew it would be a great story. I mean, Falz and I are great storytellers together. So, I wrote the verses and sent them to him, explaining what I wanted him to sound like and the energy. We both equally loved the song, and that was just the icing on the cake.
As someone who constantly evolves, what new challenges or projects are you looking forward to in the future?
When you hear about the next project, you know. I’m working on a couple of things right now. I’m not sure what’s going to come next. I have several ideas. So, when people hear the next thing, they’ll know it’s the next thing.
The music industry is known for its highs and lows. How do you maintain your mental and emotional well-being amidst the pressures and demands of your career?
Like the average person, there are pressures in every industry, like someone who works at the bank or works as a lawyer, but what do you do? You just try to prioritise the things that matter, stay level-headed, and find balance.
Some days are harder, but having a great support system around me helps. My circle is very small, and I’m very protective of my circle and my family. So, keeping that balance helps me find balance and stay focused. It helps my mental health and everything.
Looking back at your journey, what advice would you give young women aspiring to enter the music industry?
To the young women aspiring to join the industry, just work hard. If you want it, fight for it. As we’ve seen, there’s so much talent, and everyone is trying to get a piece of the cake. You’re not very special compared to someone willing to work as hard or even harder than you.
So, work for yourself, show up for yourself, put in the work, put in the time, and refuse to accept no if you want it. I think the only people who should do music are people who really want to do music, not just vibes.
That’s always been my take, but I mean, to each his or her own.
“Lost and Found” is a melodic and infectious collection of songs every listener can relate to. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer, there’s something here for everyone. The album is a rich tapestry of diverse styles, blending Afropop and R&B tunes, showcasing Simi’s remarkable vocal prowess and impeccable penmanship, and demonstrating her ability to collaborate seamlessly with other talented artists across musical genres.
Simi’s niche theme of love is evident throughout, but she also explores new sounds and styles, cementing her position as a leading artist in the Nigerian music industry. “Lost and Found” is available on all major music platforms, so listen, share, and experience the magic of Simi’s latest creation.
