By: Isabella Urbani, Workers Author
It’s been one particular calendar year due to the fact the launch of area expertise Bukola Balogun’s debut EP, The Chronicles of a Teenage Intellect. The SFU pupil was hailed by CBC as “one of the leading 10 soulful feminine artists” in the course of their 2020 Searchlight competition. She also had the option to get the job done alongside Grammy Award and JUNO Award winning producers for her EP. Since then, Balogun reported she realized to choose the reins a lot more on initiatives, like much more threats musically, acquiring her audio, and trusting her eyesight.
Balogun started her music job when she was just 9 several years previous and emerged on the scene in 2018 with her to start with large general performance at The Roxy. Just over a thirty day period afterwards, Balogun was a performer at the JUNO Awards pre-clearly show and she speedily garnered the interest of the area and countrywide tunes scene.
Balogun draws a good deal of inspiration from combining a trio of sounds: jazz, ‘90s/early 2000s R&B, and acoustic soul.
“I’ve really admired artists like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Tiana Major9, H.E.R., and Summer season Walker,” Balogun shared. “Their ability to incorporate the guitar into their music in these types of a clean way has impressed a whole lot of the more recent audio I’m generating appropriate now.” When it will come to crafting her personal audio, the guitar is an “essential part” of her songs. Jazz chords and harmonies are also a will have to for Balogun as she is a admirer of jazz chord progressions.
Having said that, when it will come to the future, Balogun is on the lookout to faucet into afrobeat. Listeners may well get a possibility to encounter this shift this summer when Balogun will launch what she’s referred to as her favorite song. When it will come to her new music, Balogun hopes that listeners can enjoy all the components separately that make up a track. “From the melody, to the lyrics, to the vocal delivery. All the areas of the track assist to tell the story.
“I think what sets me apart from other musicians is actually me, if that tends to make sense. The way I enjoy guitar, coupled with my musical influences, my creating and singing model would make me one of a kind,” explained Balogun, admitting this has been a lesson she discovered together the way. “It took me a when to realize that by staying real to myself, I am various from other musicians because no 1 else can be me, but me.”
Balogun’s opening observe on her debut EP, “Pricey Diary Classes,” is a testomony to coming of age, opening with a close to two moment monologue about how the singer perceived herself from childhood to her teenage many years. This integrated being familiar with that really like isn’t constantly a two-way road, discovering her have “armour,” and coming to embrace the way she seems as a substitute of “altering her mannerisms” and visual appeal for others’ acceptance.
What stood out most to me following a whole hear by the EP is how it tends to make you want to dance gleefully. While each individual tune is unique, it is distinct how Balogun pays homage to several artists. When I listen to her music “Struggle For Me,” I feel the similar uncontrollable smile creep onto my encounter as I do when I hear Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Information On.” When I pay attention to Balogun’s most streamed music “I Am More than enough,” I hear the amazing harmonies that manufactured bands like Destiny’s Kid and TLC so likable.
Balogun would make demanding subjects, like self-well worth, into songs beautifully crafted for the ears. Her storytelling easily interprets into song, aided by the clean jazz and R&B backing tracks. Someway, it feels like a lot more than music. It feels like sitting down down with a mate and owning a soulful conversation — chronicling the internal workings of a teenage coronary heart.
You can uncover out much more about Balogun by heading to her web site or listening to her tunes.