In the wake of the sultry resonance of 'Path of Least Resistance' and the gossamer folk-pop 'Lazy River', Aisha Badru adds to her upcoming EP with new track 'Inside'.
A piano-based rumination devoted to self-admiration and honouring oneself with kindness, “Inside” comes in collaboration with Badru’s longtime producer Chris Hutchinson, where together the pair make aural magic. The release is joined by the soulful visual directed by Laura-Lynn Petrick, where you’ll witness mesmerising choreography demonstrated by the familiar presence of Nyda Kwasowsky.
Tell us a bit about your story: who are you and what has your journey looked like so far?
I’m Aisha, a Nigerian American singer-songwriter born and raised in New York. I quit college back in 2015 and released my first few songs online. Since then I’ve had a lot of success on Spotify and with having my songs synced on TV. It’s been a real healing journey involving trusting myself and the value of my stories and experiences.
Who inspires you musically and creatively?
Lately I’ve been feeling inspired by artists who use binaural beats and ambient sounds. I love finding ways to integrate the healing power of sound into my music.
What is the creative process behind your music?
Divine inspiration plays a major role in my songwriting. Often times I find myself in a meditative state when I write some of my best songs. My mind will be quiet enough that I can tune into my inner-being and feel what wants to be said. It’s rare that I write a good song when I sit down with the eager intention of trying to write something.
What’s the best advice you’ve received during your journey?
The best advice I’ve received is to not rely too heavily on validation from others. When you’re forging a new path or when you’re on the frontier of something new creatively, you can’t always expect people to understand at first. Don’t let that stop you from being unique and trying new things!
How do you nurture your creativity?
I’m a very sensual person so that means I fully immerse myself in every moment and in all the intricacies of my surroundings. I tend to hang on to sights, smells, and feelings, and I see meaning and symbolism in everything. Most importantly, I give myself lots of alone time to reflect on my thoughts and emotions and turn them into art.
What do you hope your music will reveal to your listeners?
I hope that my music will reveal a different perspective to the painful experiences that we go through and I hope it offers a healing path to navigate through them.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects we can look forward to?
I have an EP titled ‘Learning To Love Again’ that will be out June 2nd and in addition to that I’ve been working on a bunch of new music.
Is there any advice you want to give to new artists?
Your story and perspective is so important. Be experimental and most importantly be yourself.
If you haven’t yet noticed, much of Badru’s magic lies in alchemy, distilling an often-tangled human experience into simple truths, quieting the cacophony to pave a path towards introspection. Her work is at once powerful and beautiful.
You can listen to her latest single 'Inside' below !
Photographer credit - Benny Renee
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