Talent: WurlD
Photographer:Tayo Kuku
Manager:Vizuvl Gvds
Publicist:Cabine Creative
Fashion Credits: David Yurman, AKNVAS, Thebe Magugu, Keiser Clark, Mr. Saturday
WurlD, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, is the artist to watch this year as he breaks into the American market and continues to rise worldwide. He is making his claim with his fifth project, My WorlD With U, set to drop later this year.
WurlD’s debut hit, “Beyond Our Dreams,” was published in 2012 and has since grown in popularity throughout the world. WurlD has established his mark as a songwriter and is now coming into his own as a performer, having penned songs for Chris Brown, BOB, Akon, and others. WurlD collaborated with award-winning Nigerian producer SARZ on the highly praised project “ILGWT” in 2019. Following the album, WurlD released “Afrosoul,” a seven-track EP that is intrinsically and distinctively WurlD.
Flanelle had the opportunity to discuss with him.
When did you move to ATL from Nigeria? Tell us about that process and how you navigated living in a new country at such a young age.
ANS : I moved to Atlanta from Nigeria in 2001. It was a huge culture shock for me as I had to learn new values and ways of communicating, different from my African background. I had to be patient and allow myself to adjust with time.
How has living in Africa changed your mindset and influenced your music?
Living in Africa made me who I am today as a human being first and musician second. The culture, values, food and passion instilled in me at a young age shaped me to be the best I can possibly be in a vast/progressive world.
You came up with the stage name “Wurld” when your friends told you the music you were creating when you began sounded very worldly. Then a month later you changed the spelling. Can you tell us your hidden meaning behind that?
WurlD means (My World with U as in “you” in it). My stage name really shines light on every place I’ve been, people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had as I share my story daily through my music. This is also the title of my forthcoming Debut full length Album, “My WorlD with U”
You’ve said that your music is a “fusion of soul and electronic music with sprinkles of different genres of music.” Who are your musical influences right now?
My musical influences range pretty wide. Kanye West, Coldplay, Sade, Michael Jackson, Seal to name a few.
While researching you for this interview, I’ve become really impressed with the way you’ve been able to bend genres between traditional Afrobeats and the Atlanta R&B influence through writing songs with Timbaland, B.o.B., Mario, etc. How do you find a balance between sounds and how do you know when to push between the two? How did you hold onto your own style when others wanted you to stay within the lines?
My songwriting background helps me a lot in telling my story through music the way I see it. Being born and raised in Nigeria but learning how to create music in Atlanta makes it easier to fuse Afro and western genres without making it look forced. I stay true to myself and vision most importantly, regardless of the type of music I’m experimenting with.
What was something you learned from your time writing for other artists that’s really helped you now as your own artist?
Songwriting for other artists over the years makes it easier to create music for myself now.
What did the success “Show You Off” mean to you as an emerging artist at the time?
“Show You Off” brought me back close to Africa again after being gone for so long since I moved. Having my home support is everything to me now and I don’t take it for granted at all as I make new strides with my music globally.
Do you have a favorite song from “Afrosoul”?
My favorite song changes depending on the day and my mood. Today would be “Ghost Town”.
Since your creative process has always been a quiet, zen process of you creating, how has Covid changed or altered your creative process? Has it been harder to focus on that creative energy, or were you still able to work on music during quarantine?
Covid literally made me even more focused and still for longer periods. I’ve made some of the most amazing music in my life during this period that I can’t wait to share.
What new music do you have in the works? Anything else you want to share with us?
My new Album, “My WorlD with U”, and several collaborations on the way.
