Deep diving into the risks of love and whether the feelings she feels are worth the risks and challenges, SIMI doesn’t hold back at all with her highly relatable Afro-pop ballad, titled “Stranger”. The release of this single comes at a big point in SIMI’s music career as she recently achieved a massive music milestone, managing to amass over 1 billion global streams, and on top of that, she has also been announced as a support act for Alicia Keys’ North American “Keys To The Summer” tour in July. The release of this new single acts as the follow-up to SIMI’s acoustic EP titled “To Be Honest (tbh) (Acoustic)” which contains five acoustic versions of tracks from her latest album “Tbh (To Be Honest)” as well as an acoustic version of her 2022 Christmas single “Christmas Sometin”.
SIMI, born Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, is an accomplished Nigerian singer, songwriter, and sound engineer, renowned for her unique contributions to the Afro-pop genre. With a career spanning over a decade, SIMI has left an indelible mark on the African music scene. Beginning her musical journey as a church chorister, she later ventured into gospel music, releasing her debut album “Ogaju” in 2008. SIMI’s breakout moment came in 2014 with the release of the hit singles “Tiff” and “E No Go Funny,” garnering critical acclaim and earning her a nomination for Best Alternative Song at The Headies 2015. She signed with X3M Music in the same year, ultimately releasing her award-winning second studio album, “Simisola”, in 2017. The album achieved significant success, reaching the top 5 on the Billboard world chart and solidifying SIMI’s status as a force to be reckoned with in the industry. In 2019, she marked her thirty-first birthday by releasing her third studio album, “Omo Charlie Champagne, Vol. 1”, which further showcased her artistry and garnered widespread acclaim. SIMI’s impressive discography has amassed over 1 billion global streams, and her influence extends beyond her music, with a dedicated fan base of over 25 million followers. With her recent releases, “To Be Honest” and “Stranger”. SIMI is ushering in a new era in her career, thrilling her supporters and reaffirming her position as one of the most distinctive female voices in African music today.
Written, composed, and engineered by SIMI, herself, whilst it has been produced by Louddaaa, “Stranger” is a gorgeous soulful Afro-pop song that resonates deeply with every single listener. SIMI’s absolutely stunning vocals come right from the heart and you can feel every single word she is singing – it’s clear this means a lot to her and we’re not surprised due to the awesome relatable lyrical content. Emotional from start to finish, SIMI doesn’t shy away from being honest with her listeners, letting them into her story of being loved and also suffering as a result of the breakup. There are always risks and consequences of love with SIMI trying to decide if love is worth the pain, wondering if the joy that love brings can conquer the hurtfulness that may happen if it were to come to an end. A deeply powerful and emotional track, “Stranger” is one that truly hits home for everyone who hears it, and SIMI’s vocals are bolstered by the hypnotic piano melodies and the elegant string arrangements.
Talking about the track, SIMI said: “The power of love renders you powerless, and may the heavens help you if you’re powerless for someone undeserving. Is it love when it transforms you so strongly, you find you’re becoming different from the person you always thought you were – the person you thought you were capable of being? Is it love? The song is about love that changes you for the worst.”
Stream “Stranger” by SIMI on Spotify here:
“Stranger”, by SIMI, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Studio Brat / Mad Solutions.