We recently connected with ZÏBUWA – and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, ZÏBUWA thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project that I have worked on has to be my EP called Full Circle.

A bit of backstory, this ep wasn’t even suppose to be release. When the producer Homerun Hitz and I started working on this EP we had agreed that we would make it for sync purposes. He gave me the challenge of not writing love songs but to take a moment and reflect on what has happened in my life/ the people around me and inspire myself from there. Once all the beats were made and all the songs written, we headed to the studio to track the vocals. It was such an amazing experience working with someone who gave me the space to be so creatively free.

Once we completed all the songs, they were mixed and mastered. From there we went on the hunt for sync agencies. After months of looking we finally found one and signed an exclusive deal (which basically means we could release the songs until they were synced). Without my knowledge, Homerun managed to negotiate a non-exclusive. Once informed I did not hesitate, I knew this had to be released to the world.

At this point, I was on the look out for a creative director who could help me create the visual world for the ep. Then I met Victoria Vervelsky. Little did I know, that in the next few weeks, our relationship would blossom and she would become my manger.

To answer the question on why this is my most meaningful project, it helped me find a part of my team. I feel like that is one of the biggest blessings the project has given me. It also helped me learn so much about what come with a release. The marketing, organizing an event and videography.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Nigerian/Canadian. My culture has shaped me into the extraverted, spontaneous and calculated person that I am. My musical story begins in the church. I started singing in choir to singing in my school plays. I have always had a real love and passion for music. I decided to pursue a career at the age of 16 as a songwriter, writing pop songs for artist. I decide to pursue a singing carrier at the age of 20 doing. I draws from her roots to create a fusion of neo-soul and R&B. My music is infused with Afro rhythm, melded seamlessly with jazzy sonic textures while still maintaining soulful R&B vocals

I am always so eager to learn more about music and production. As a result to that hunger, I have been studying for my degree in Audio Engineering/Sound Design.

I am excited to announce that I have more music coming in the fall! This next ep will be inspired by my love for Hip-Hop music. It will be fusion with some Jazz and RnB. I am very excited for the it to be completed.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My life biggest pivot was deciding I wanted to pursue music full time. At the time I was studying Social Work and realized that I wasn’t passionate about it. I loved supporting and helping people but deep down I knew it wasn’t sustainable for me. So against my parents wishes, I took the biggest risk of my life and dropped out of school. The first year was the hardest because I didn’t have my parents support but through it all I kept going, All my resilience impressed my parents and they ended seeing my passion and drive for it all. Now they support me to the fullest.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes my main goal is to express myself and be able to give my art to the world. I also want to build a sense of community with everyone I work and all of my listeners. Community is the biggest thing that we have as artist. Being able to come together, support one another and encourage one another is what keeps a lot of us going during the hard periods. I want to be able to build that support that other have gracefully offered me in my times of need.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zibuwa_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZIBUWA
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zibuwa__

Image Credits

Victoria Vervelsy
Erv (endlessreaschvisuals)