Nigerian musician Simi talks candidly about how she became famous and why she continues to produce her own music

The popular musician from Nigeria, Simi, appears to be capable of anything.

Simi is a singer, composer, and one of the rare female producers and mixers of their own music, paving the way for Afropop and soul’s future. Simi has become well-known throughout the world after opening for 15-time Grammy Award-winning vocal powerhouse Alicia Keys on her 2023 tour and making waves on the Billboard World Album Charts.

The actual Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, better known as Simi, started out as a gospel singer and put out her debut album, “Ogaju,” in 2008.

Over the years, more albums were released, but by the time she wanted to create her “RESTLESS” EP in 2014, she still didn’t have a record label. In a recent interview in Lagos, Nigeria, Simi said to CNN’s Larry Madowo that she “didn’t really have money to give anyone.”

Thus, after watching videos on YouTube, the singer taught herself how to record, mix, and master her own music.

Simi remarked, “It came to me so naturally.” “I enjoy carrying it out.”

Simi, who was raised in the crowded Lagos neighborhood of Ojuelegba, discovered she wanted to sing when she was just eight years old after performing her first solo for church’s youth day.

“Everyone commented on how lovely my solo was the day after I performed it. That must have ignited something inside of me, Simi remarked.

Her career and future achievements were paved with the success of her 2008 debut gospel CD. With the release of her chart-topping smash song “Tiff” six years after her “RESTLESS” release and after signing with a record company, Simi made the move into mainstream music. The song was nominated for an award at The Headies, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious music awards.

According to Simi, the transition from gospel to Afropop “definitely happened organically.” After that, she released “Simisola,” her second studio album, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard World Album Chart.

Simi said, “That album was basically about introducing myself and my sound to the world at large.” “This is what I represent when you hear my name and hear my voice, so it was crucial that I got it right because that was such a personal process.”