2023 was a great year for African music, both locally and internationally. While the big guys were representing the continent globally, a new set of talents was exhibiting great promise for the future of African music. One of such talents is Nigerian artist Winifred Ohili Adanu, also known as Winny. Describing herself as versatile and eccentric, Winny captured the hearts and admiration of listeners with the release of her self-titled debut project, “Winny.” With a diverse sound, she finds a balance between R&B, Reggae, Pop, and Afro, to create music that fits her vocal texture making her distinct in the music space. The project, which followed her debut single “Pretty,” offered listeners a front-row seat into the life of the Nigerian singer. Securing the number-one spot on Apple Music’s R&B album charts, an Apple Next Up spot, and a number-14 spot on Spotify’s viral chart for her song “Don’t Leave,” Winny has had an amazing start to her career.
Inspired by Chronixx, Wizkid, Chris Brown, and Kranium, her music mirrors her experiences and reality. Her melodies, lyricism, and creativity won her attention beyond the borders of Nigeria, making her one to keep an eye on for the future.
Her welcoming personality and infectious laugh make it easy to talk to her as iMullar sits with her for a conversation. Winny opens up about her inspirations, a new song, and what should be expected of her in the coming months.
If you are to describe yourself, how will you describe yourself?
Winny: Winny is funny, lively, easygoing, Winny is open-minded, Winny is just everything.
What will you say has or influences your creativity and what you are doing right now?
What has inspired my creativity is life in general. Life is wonderful and all the experiences life has to offer have been my source of inspiration over the years in my music journey.
Listening to you there is diversity in your sound and you have shown that in the songs you put out. How will you describe yourself sound-wise?
I am eccentric and versatile. When I create I do not see any limitation of what I should make. I like to create whatever I feel inspired to create, be it Pop, Funk, or anything else.
Before we delve into the year you had last year if you could describe it with 2 words, what would those words be?
I will describe last year as wonderful.
Winny EP. What informed the decision to put out the EP?
The title Winny is just an introduction to my person. Since the EP embodied my experiences and what I have gone through, how I am reacting to them, and what I have learned from them, I just found a way to infuse them into my music. So the last EP was just my introduction to people.
Looking at how well the EP did and all the accolades you scored over the period including appearing in listicles on Ones to Watch, has that affected or put pressure on you in any way? How are you dealing with the attention that has come your way so far?
The support was amazing and I will not say it was overwhelming because the project deserved the accolades it received. The songs were on point and it was what I have been on over the years. I recorded the project in 2019 and put in a lot of effort so I feel it got the attention it deserved. For me, I see the attention as the people resonating with what you are doing and they show you a lot of love. The feeling is overwhelming but it is my job to keep putting out great music. So I am flowing and just keep feeding my fans.
We are 8 months into the year. How will you describe the year thus far?
2024 is an excellent year. A year of abundance and I am here for it.
After some hiatus, you have given us new music ‘Take Me”. What does Take Me represent at this point in your career?
Take Me is a song where I express my longing to spend time with my lover and reminisce about our future together. I am confident because I am dropping a new body of work before the year ends and this is a single off it.
You featured Thutmose on the song. How easy or challenging was it getting him on the song and why him and not someone else?
I am a big fan of Thutmose and I felt we shared the same vibe so I decided to get him on the song. It wasn’t difficult getting him on the song. I reached out, we hopped on a call, and boom it happened.
We spoke earlier about your diversity and looking at the space now, while there is some diversity, African music seems to keep getting boxed. How are you as an individual dealing with the possibility of being boxed?
As a creative, I don’t believe there is a limit to what you can do. Sometimes it is okay if people want something from you as an artist. You can still be outside a box and still be boxed in and I don’t think there are any boxes at all. I feel like people think you are boxed when you keep doing something repeatedly without a slight change in what you are doing. I feel like with my new song, I am bringing a new experience to whoever is listening.
How will you describe your creative process when recording a song?
I like to record at night. So before I record, I like to have people around even if they are not artists, I just like them to hang around me. Before I record I like to have water and then sometimes food. I do not like to eat before recording so I mostly finish recording and then I eat. But I love recording with people around.
Take Me is your debut for the year, should we expect more music before the year ends? Any collaborations?
They should look out for plenty of things. Surprises, I love surprises so they should anticipate a lot of surprises this year. I have one more collab but It will be a surprise.
What is one message you would like people to get whenever they listen to Winny?
I want people to feel like I know them when they listen to my song. I want them to feel light weight like they are having fun. I want them to feel connected to me like I am easing their body.
What last words do you have for anyone reading this?
My last words to them are that they should be themselves and that I LOVE THEM.
Written and Interviewed by Nana Kojo Mula
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