- Words Notion Staff
Afrobeats star Simi returns with long-awaited new album 'To Be Honest', brimming with candid storytelling.
Nigerian-born singer, songwriter and producer Simi is an artist who has been building her global reach for over a decade. With her unique brand of Afrobeat sounds informed by R&B, soul and pop, this June saw the release of the artist’s latest album, ‘To Be Honest (TBH)’.
One of the pioneering forces of Nigeria’s new afropop wave, Simi is known as one of the most recognisable current voices in African music. Her career has been varied since the release of her first studio album in 2008, a creative with multi-disciplinary talents. She’s been a judge on Nigerian Idol, took up acting in 2019 film ‘Mokalik’, and is credited as a sound engineer on partner Adekunle Gold’s album ‘Gold’.
Since the release of her last full-length project in 2019, Simi’s numbers speak for themselves. Amassing over 500 million plays, a top 5 Billboard album, and a MTV Africa Music Award nomination, her loyal community have been long awaiting ‘To Be Honest’. Released on her own label Studio Brat, it was entirely written and composed by the artist, with guest appearances from partner Adekunle Gold and Fave. Having recently become a mother, the album marks a new era of creative expression for Simi.
About the project, she describes: “This record ‘To Be Honest’ is a compilation of my stories and some really candid things I’ve wanted to say for a long time. It has a couple of songs for love and vibes because who doesn’t love, love and vibes? It’s different from anything I’ve done before, but it is also stamped with my signature inflections and emotions and passions. People see my face or hear my voice and think they already know what they’re going to get. Well, they don’t. To be honest, they don’t”.