Sadiq Onifade, popularly known as WurlD, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. As a very skilled music phenomenon and song composer, WurlD began his career writing songs for artists such as BOB, Trinidad James, Akon, Mario, and many more.
Since 2019, WurlD has blessed his audience with projects and this year is no different. With an extended playlist titled “Don’t Get Used To It” just released, Bryan Benjamin sits with WurlD to discuss the project, his brand identity, and writing music.
iMullar: You are known for having a specific blue hair color. What’s the story behind the color and how has it helped in his imagery?
WurlD: When it comes to the blue color, it is really not deep. It is something I tried, and it works well. It just felt right, and I stuck to it, but with different shades of blue. I may change in the near future – there’s no telling. It just feels right for now, If you see me in the future and it changes then I probably outgrew it. Aesthetically, I am not going from blue to yellow to pink, so it helps a lot with my brand identity.
iMullar: As an artist with a very vast sound, how easy or difficult was it putting together this project?
WurlD: On this project, my choices were very intentional. I wasn’t doing something I had not done before, I wanted to make something owning my Afro-fusion/Afrosoul sound, reiterating how much of a master I am in that space. This is me. This is a space I introduced and I am living in it and I am sharing more conversations, more stories, with all my fans that really embrace my sound. This was easier overall because I was really in my own space and my own world, embracing it fully. It was a natural creative process. I was intentional in my choices, keeping it within an Afro-fusion, Afrosoul sound. It was more intentional than difficult.
iMullar: What do you feel is the biggest selling point with this EP? Is it the sound, theme, lyrics, or everything combined?
WurlD: I think it is the cohesion of it. It is probably one of my most cohesive projects. This is a perfect project for me. I didn’t want to give people too many sides of me on one project. It is short intentionally because I intend to come around in a short time with a new project. The title was really intentional because a lot of things can change. I am still continually growing and I am going to continue giving a different side of me on different projects.
iMullar: Why is the EP titled “Don’t Get Used To It.” Are you alluding to us not getting music from you at some point?
WurlD: No. I am just saying as amazing as this sounds and as perfect as this music is, don’t ask me for the same thing again. Don’t say, ‘WurlD, give us that again.’ I am constantly evolving and there is so much of me that I feel like people don’t know yet. So I am constantly growing and sharing a different part of myself. Enjoy it now, and we’ll evolve together and hopefully, they’ll embrace the upcoming music that I have as well.
iMullar: Your writing always has emotional tones to it. Where would you say you were when you were making the music on this EP?
WurlD: I was just completely in my most vulnerable, most egoless space, mentally. I was operating on pure love, for everything and everyone around me. I wanted that to shine in the music as well. When I have a song like “Company,” you don’t feel ego. You feel pure self-love that is extended to everything around me. I am not in a breakup situation. I Love Girls with Trobul was more toxic. I’m not in that toxic space.
iMullar: Out of all the songs, which song did you enjoy making, and which one has surprised you in terms of reception so far?
WurlD: I enjoyed making every single song on this project to be honest. Every song was so much joy to make. I was really creating in my most pure form. It wasn’t about trying to impress anybody or trying to be a better writer, it was about the art, the music, being vulnerable, being loving, and being caring. It was about me just being me, but having music that people could feel vulnerable with. Self-love.
iMullar: The production on the project swings across a lot of blends with an Afrobeats base. Is it a sign of what is to come in terms of sound for Wurld?
WurlD: Yeah, I have hinted at a lot of what is to come on this project. But there are a lot of different aspects. It’s going to be difficult for listeners to tell what’s next. That is the exciting part. The taste of what’s coming next is embedded in this project. I am trying to figure out which part of me I want to share on the next project but time will tell.
iMullar: Was it intentional to go solo on this project and why??
WurlD: Yeah it was intentional. 2024 for me is going to be a lot of collaborations for me, so I wanted people to fully experience me on this project.
iMullar: In Africa, people who are good writers are not often open to writing for others to avoid being taken advantage of. What do you have to say to writers who need some guidance on what to do?
WurlD: I think the key is to find artists they feel comfortable sharing their talent with, and who you feel has your best interest at heart as well. It takes a lot of patience. In the African music space, people are still learning how to do business the right way to international standards. Make sure you have the right representation protecting your interests. And communicating what you want to the fullest. You need to find a medium where you feel good.
Stream Wurld’s new EP Here.
