In 2008, Simi made her debut as a gospel singer with the album titled Ogaju. But it was not until 2014 that many people caught the Simi bug with the release of her critically acclaimed song “Tiff.” She has since gone on to explore other genres like RnB, Soul, and Highlife. Almost two decades into the game, Simi has become a household name with numerous awards and nominations to her name including the prestigious Headies and AFRIMA.
To celebrate her latest single “All I Want,” which chronicles how she wants to be treated in a relationship and also serves a warning to her lover, I spoke to the versatile artist. In the course of our conversation, I gushed about being a huge fan of the Simisola album, she welcomed my praise with gratitude. And it opened a discussion on her penchant for love songs. “I love love” she says, “I like to tell anyone that I’m such a lover girl.” She also spoke about what an ideal love looks like and the inspiration behind her love songs.
During our conversation, her daughter, Deja who bears a remarkable resemblance to her, came crying to her, asking for an item. Simi handles Deja’s interruption with grace, pacifying the little girl but with some sternness in her voice so Deja knows she’s preoccupied now. It’s quite difficult to balance the opposing sides but Simi pulls this off. It was a brief glimpse at her life as a mum.
Four years ago, she was scared to tell her manager about her pregnancy because of how life changing a baby can be. Motherhood has definitely impacted her career but it is a job she is committed to.
“I think the most important thing I’ve done is be a mum,” she tells me.
We broached the subject of her upcoming album scheduled for July. So far, Simi has put out four studio albums and each album journals a phase in her life. Her fifth album promises listeners front-row seats into her journey of rediscovery. After being a mum and wife for a while now, she is finally feeling like Simisola again. Speaking with Simi came with ease so we were able to exchange jokes about the Simi and Falz era and how most of us didn’t believe they were just friends till the images of her marriage to Adekunle Gold hit the internet.
Ultimately, our insightful interaction offered glances into Simi’s artistic journey, personal growth, the new era of Afrobeats, and the challenges faced as both a female artist and mother in the industry. It ended with anticipation for her upcoming musical exploits.
Modaculture: Over the years, you have proven yourself a connoisseur of love songs. It’s like you have an affinity for them. Even your first single for the year is a love song. Why are love songs dear to you?
Simi: Well, I mean, I like to tell anyone that I’m such a lover girl. I love love. I love nice, really great love stories. Mine and other people’s love stories as well. I think that it’s such a universal and beautiful feeling and it’s the strongest force. And I think that because of how strong and universal it is, everyone can tap into it. You know what I mean? Everyone can connect to it. So, most of my songs tend to be love songs because I think that it’s fun to be able to sing something that everyone can connect to on a level.
I think you’re one of the Afro artistes who has been able to capture love in songs that feel real. It is not hypersexual; it just focuses on the feeling. How have you been able to do this and where do you draw inspiration from?
I think part of it is my personality and how I also started in the industry. My brand is very friendly to families and kids. I try to stay as true to that as possible. There are sides to me that people don’t know. So, I try to keep it as generic as possible so most people can connect to it. You know what I mean? That’s why I have love songs that people don’t mind their kids singing. It’s not like I haven’t done songs that are more adult-based and won’t do more like that. But as much as possible, I want to be relatable. I want to stay relatable because I love that people from all classes and from all kinds of backgrounds can connect. I don’t want to feel unreachable or unapproachable. So that’s how I also address the issue of love.
In your single “All I Want,” you talk about what you expect from your lover which I think is amazing. I think it is important that we tell people how we want to be loved. So, what does the ideal love look like to you?
I think that the ideal love is one where both people feel safe with the other person, regardless of how vulnerable they are. When you’re safe with someone, you can be your weakest self. The nature of love, by definition, is humility. It humbles you even if you don’t humble yourself. Finding someone that you feel safe enough to be humble with, I think is the essence of love. Because a lot of people are in relationships, or maybe “situationships” where they wake up with anxiety, they’re not always happy. Sometimes they’re not even sure why they’re not happy. They’re not sure of where they stand with who they’re with because they haven’t made them feel safe. So having that sense of safety, and obviously, for you to feel that sense of safety, you must have gone through certain things. How does this person talk to you? How do they act when they’re mad at you? How do they speak about you when other people are there or when you’re not? And things like that. So, things like that culminate and just work together to determine how you feel around that person.
You feel safe with them. You feel safe when they’re not there as well because you know that your name is safe in their mouth. There are so many paths to love, obviously. But I think that when you feel safe with someone, you allow yourself to love that person as completely as possible.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
We are currently experiencing an Afrobeat export and Afrobeat is constantly evolving especially with international recognition. There are so many fusions like Afro Life, Afro Rock and so on but you have stayed true to your sound even though you have experimented with others. How have you been able to do this?
It’s interesting that you asked this question because I was just having a conversation with someone today about how the music industry in Nigeria is so peculiar. We just announced a song that I have with Joshua Baraka, who is a Ugandan artist. I was like, oh, your voice is so beautiful. And I think that’s where this conversation came from.
As an artiste, I feel like what we have to do as artistes sometimes is very unnatural, especially if your kind of sound is very niche. We are a bunch of artistes with different sounds, and different voices, but catering to the same crowd, trying to impress the same people with different tastes, people with different inspirations, people that like to listen to different things, but somehow, we have to please the same kind of people.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
Let me give you an example, an artiste like Johnny Drille when he started, he was very country. He had country influences, still with Afro sounds. But then he had to please the same people listening to someone like Zlatan. The influences in the music are different, and that is such a trip because it’s not natural. That’s not how an artiste’s mind works. If you’re a true artiste, when you’re creating your music, you’re creating from your heart. You’re doing what comes naturally to you. Some people are like dance artistes you know what I mean? And some people are more soulful and everything. So, imagine having to reconcile your art with your audience. You have to do it; otherwise, how do you thrive? And that’s hard.
I’m so proud to be witnessing this export that you mentioned. Our music is now going global and everyone is tuned in and everything, but we’re also exporting this problem, you know what I mean? Because when we say Afro beats, it’s almost like they expect one thing, but it’s a cocktail of artistes with different sounds. Artistes that are struggling to cater to the same people. I’m so proud that we’ve come as far as we have. I hope that as we continue to explore and cross these boundaries, that people are able to live in their truth as artistes more.
Still on the export talk. I think one of the vehicles that pushed Afrobeat to the global stage is TikTok. I feel like TikTok has a huge influence on our music industry. But as more songs are released, sometimes it feels like the artistes made the songs for TikTok. You have to make sure there are snippets from the songs people can use for TikTok challenges. This makes some of the songs fall flat. Has Tiktok stifled creativity? I do understand that music is a business and you have to do what sells but I would like to hear your thoughts on this trend.
I think you have answered your question. I always say when life gives you something, it likes to take something back. With the Internet, for example, you have access to all these things, but it takes away a lot. People have poor usage of their time now, etc. TikTok definitely has paved the way for artistes especially independent artistes that don’t have access to the big money. All they have to depend on is their talent. So now more people have more, there’s a higher probability of people being able to connect to your music and finding you just based on your talent alone or based on the sound you have. And this is the same for big artistes alike. And maybe it’s even better, much better because if you have resources, you have an even better platform. They’ve cut off most of the middlemen. So that’s definitely a very big win on that front.
But yeah, I do feel like creativity has been stifled. And not just creativity, I think the attention span of people has declined. There was a time when artistes dropped at most two songs a year because they were going to stream or they were going to buy your song. But now people are spoiled for choice. There’s a lot of music out there and people don’t even have enough time. The pace is so fast. People are not able to walk into music as much or as well as they used to. But I think that’s what it took as it was giving. So, take what you can from it, or just find a really nice balance, which is what I try to do. I definitely have maybe not made songs specifically with TikTok in mind, but as I make the songs, I’m thinking, oh, this is something that has potential for people to latch onto it because it has maybe viral influences and whatever. In the beginning, you might struggle with it, but you realise that times change. There was a time when the only thing we had to listen to music was vinyl records, and then you went from that to CDs to Walkman.
Vinyl is coming back now.
It’s coming back but as a trend.
Yeah, because it’s vintage, it’s like an aesthetic.
It’s vintage. Exactly. Yes. As an aesthetic. So, it’s not even necessarily the same.
But the times change and I think you just move with it. Find that balance. Whatever it is that you lose in the process, make your peace with it and keep it moving. Because if you are going to just sit down and whine, time is going to pass you by. Trends will pass you by, things will pass you by. I personally even think that apart from TikTok, people do not make music as good as they used to.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
But I don’t think it’s even the fault of the artiste. I think it’s because people are not paying attention as much as they used to. So, it’s easy to say they don’t make music like they used to, but people are making music and doing all this stuff, but it’s almost like people want to hear a certain kind of sound. They’re so addicted to a particular sound now. And if you want to stay thriving in this industry, you have to kind of adapt to that.
I like to think of you as a music exec because you launched your record label; Studio Brat, a few years ago. And that is such an amazing feat because there are few female music execs in the Nigerian music industry. The space is male-dominated. However, there was a conversation the other day about how bigger female artistes never lend a hand to upcoming female artistes. I know the conversation ignored the realities of female artistes in the industry but I would like to hear from you, being in the industry, why it seems that way.
Honestly, I usually ignore most of these conversations online because there are so many things easily said. Yeah, they love guys. They love male artistes that have put other guys on. There are many parts to it. First of all, there are more men in the industry as execs. And I’m not talking about people that own their own label. I’m talking about people who actually have access to the kind of seats and resources to be able to promote artistes, whether male or female. People are saying, men put other men on but women don’t put themselves on. But it’s the same way where you have a lineup at a show, for example, and you have 15 guys and two girls. You know what I mean? It’s unlikely that it is not going to spill over. If you think about the biggest female artistes in the industry, you think about the biggest male artistes in the industry, you realise that they don’t have the same kind of access. They don’t have the same kind of resources. Most women, sometimes have to rely on the guys that have the resources to be able to get to a particular level.
I can’t speak for all the ladies in the industry because I can only speak for myself. But the experiences are very similar. There’s a way that you’re expected to be and act to thrive or blow in the industry. And it takes so much for us to remain relevant. I remember when I first popped up, one of the questions they always asked me during interviews was: “What is it like working alongside guys?” And I always say you have to do double the work to get half the results.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
And that continues. It’s not a one-time thing. It continues to happen and happen. There have been more women winning the game now and that makes me really happy. They’ve talked about features and they’ll talk about, like, signing on women. Now you’re not going to see as many features as with guys because there are fewer women. But guys, there are so many of them that are doing really well. So, I think the comparison is unfair. You are just being intentionally ignorant. That is my take. And I don’t mean ignorant as in failure, silly, but ignorant as in you’re not paying attention to the information. It’s like you just want to see what you want to see. You are taking it the way you want to take it. And people who say these things, usually say it in response to women saying we need more support. It’s almost like you’re saying, oh, you want us to support you. Are you supporting yourself?
I think they actually ignore it because a perfect example of having fewer women is Mavins. For a while, I think Ayra was the only female artiste before the new artiste.
I mean, they are very big. I think they usually have a lot of underground artistes that they work on, but they are big. Before her, it was Tiwa, and then there was Ayra. There are so few of us. If you want to call the guys now, I’m sure you might forget some names. And I’m talking about the ones that are really popping. So, I just don’t think that it’s fair. I don’t think people are asking the right questions. I don’t want to call names, but if you think about the execs. I’m not talking about artistes like the execs that actually have that much power in the industry, how many are women? I’m not talking about the ones behind the scenes, the ones you actually know. How many do you know? Because when they are saying, “Oh, the female artistes, they are so big.” Do you know what they’re doing every day? You know what I’m saying? We’re trying to pull on different fronts, and sometimes they are waiting for some guy to put you on before they respect you. So, I just don’t think it’s a fair comparison.
Your studio album, which is scheduled to come out sometime this year, is your second album after having your beautiful girl, Deja. By the way, I like watching your videos with her. My friend is such a fan. She’s always like, “Simi is such a good mum” which just shows how invested you are in motherhood. But I have always wondered about the impact motherhood has had on your career. Has it, in any way, changed you or affected your career in the music industry?
It has changed my life intensely. Especially as an artiste because of the compromises you have to make especially with kids. When I got married, it was like I moved in with my boyfriend, so nothing really changed. But when you start having kids it’s different.
When people say “Oh, you can have it all” I don’t think it’s a lie. I just don’t think you can have it all at the same time. If you’re winning at something, something is giving somewhere. If you’re giving everything to something, something is giving somewhere.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
And I like to think that I’m a very intentional person. I don’t do things just to tick a box to say I did it. I do it because it’s something I really want. So, when I decide to do something that I really want, I like to go all in, in spite of whatever I have to compromise. And with kids, you have to compromise. So, whether you’re compromising something at your job or you’re compromising your work, you can’t give both things the same kind of energy. And with really little kids, it’s a very sensitive age. But I think that the most important thing I’ve ever done is be a mom. That’s the most important job I’ve chosen by myself. Like, it wasn’t forced on me or anything. This is something that I chose and so that’s how I treat it. There are things I’ve definitely given up on, things I’ve compromised on.
When I first got pregnant, I was a little nervous to tell my manager because I knew he was going to freak out. A lot of people die before they have kids. They already tell you that “when you start to have children now you no go dey successful again.” Even before they know what you’re going to do, they really assume that’s how it’s going to go.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
And that’s a reality that I reconciled myself with very early on before I even got pregnant. So, nothing surprised me. It definitely changed a lot of things about how I would work and everything. But for me, there was no option. I have to be intentional. I’m very hands-on as a mum, as I still am. And so, whatever goes with that territory, goes with that territory.
I think as women our identities, especially when we start a family, are split into two. It’s one thing to be a woman in the industry and another thing to be a mother in the industry. In your opinion, how does the industry view mothers and how have you managed these views?
I’m going to be as open and transparent about this as possible. I know how many times I go online and scroll and see comments like, “Simi gave up her career for Kunle,” that’s my husband. You become a mum and it’s like they have been waiting for you; you don’t have an identity anymore, especially for someone who gives birth and still wants to do music. It’s like they want to count you out because they believe that’s what it should be.
The funny thing is some people say it as though they’re praising me “Oh, my God, Simi just gave it up for Kunle. What a great wife!” And for me, this is a little more intense because I’m married to someone that’s in the same industry as I am. So, it’s like the choices I’m making, everything in my life is now in comparison to his life and his trajectory as a man, also in the same relationship as I am.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
It definitely has impacted how people see me in some ways.
People are like “Simi is such a great mum.” That’s a compliment that means a lot to me because I try to be as intentional as possible. I think if I was maybe doing like a nine to five where after you dropped the baby, you resume and you go back home to your kid and everything, people still see you as a mom but it’s almost like they can help you separate it. But my life is so intertwined with my music, that sometimes people struggle with separating it. I think that it’s not just a music thing, it’s a life thing. And so, I don’t take it personally. I just say that’s how people are. And people’s views on my life don’t really impact my own views on my life.
I remember seeing those tweets and thinking they were weird. You still release music. I mean, you released an EP, you released an album having Deja.
I think that they were weird, but I get where they were coming from. The first question you asked me about being a mum, I said something has to give and a lot of the time my music has had to give. Like, I drop music, but I don’t drop music as consistently as I used to. I’m not able to go places on a whim. You can’t just call me today and say, “Simi, let’s go, we’re going to New York.” And that was not the case before. The only way that I would be able to be that person is if I’m not in my child’s life as much, and someone else is raising her. And that’s not a compromise I’m willing to make, but I’m still very present. I’m still as great as I was at music, and I just take it one day at a time and keep it moving. And as my child grows, I have more time and more flexibility.
I think your upcoming album is your fifth studio album
Is it? Oh My God.
Isn’t it your fifth?
Sixth, if you are counting Chemistry.
Yes, the Falz and Simi era. Everybody was so surprised when the wedding pictures dropped.
I know right?
The entire Simi Army is excited about your new album. Can you tell us a bit about this project? We’ll take anything you have to say.
I was going to say, I don’t know what I can say, but I guess I can say that I have more features on this album than I have had on any other project that I’ve made.
A lot of people know a lot of my features, but most of those songs are songs that people have had me on. I’ve not really featured a lot of people, so I’m going to have more features on this album than I’ve had on any album prior.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
What else? Another thing is, it’s in July. Like early July. Not too far ahead. What else? The thing is that with every project that I’ve made, I’m in a different space emotionally, and they mean different things to me, which is why sometimes when people are kind of obsessed with things I’ve done in the past, I’m like, I’m an artiste. At the end of the day, I’m trying to tell you new stories. To Be Honest, was very personal for me. I was just telling stories. I was trying to connect to my truth as much as possible. And this album was just me enjoying music for doing music again.
After I had Deja, I felt like I didn’t really see myself as much. I saw myself as a mum. I saw myself as an artiste, but it was more work than anything. I saw myself as a wife. But it’s almost like I didn’t see Simi. I’m a very self-aware person. My personality is one of my favourite things about myself. It’s not like it wasn’t there anymore, but I just didn’t see it as much as I would like. And when my daughter was two, I felt like I started to see glimpses of myself again. And it was so colourful, and I loved it. With those glimpses, I also saw my passion for music again.
So, this album was just about me making songs that I just enjoyed making. It wasn’t connected to anything. It wasn’t me going through anything or trying to tell any story. It was just me being in love with music.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
Kind of like a rediscovery.
Exactly. And that’s my favourite thing about art of any kind, is like, it’s so personal. It’s about the artist. I think the art is about the artist more than the audience. Yeah, I guess I’ve given you plenty of information.
Yes, you have. I live for stories of rediscovery and can’t wait to hear this one. Finally, in line with your latest single, what does Simi want?
The same thing I’ve always wanted. My answer to this has always been just to be happy, and I guess to be able to do all the things that make me happy. And that always changes, which is why I don’t like when people ask me “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Because I think that changes every day based on my life. Where am I right now? If you have a kid in five years, I want to see myself on holiday or doing something that I’m able to do in that time, in two days, that might change.
So right now, I want to feel fulfilled and happy in whatever I find myself doing. I want to chase my dreams, not just music. All the things that I see myself doing. I want to be able to have the energy, mental energy and emotional energy to actually see them through. I want to be the best mum to my kid. I want to be the best wife. I want to be the best artiste to my fans. I want to be the best writer and singer. I want to wake up and smile and feel like the day has great things for me. I just want to be happy.
Simi, Modaculture April 2024
That’s really it. Because I think that material things can be taken away and your dreams can be stolen. Because life changes and you never know. So, I just want to be content wherever I find myself. And I also want to be able to have the energy to chase the things that I want.
That’s nice. I pray that your life is filled with this happiness.
Amen, Amen.
Thank you so much for speaking to me.
You are welcome.
