Apple Music has announced the latest featured artiste in its ‘Up Next’ artiste development programme in Nigeria is Afrobeats singer-songwriter Shoday (real name Shodade Solomon Segun).
“It’s a big privilege to be selected as the focus artist of Up Next Nigeria on Apple Music,” he tells Apple Music. “It’s a great feeling knowing that the hard work and energy invested into the craft is being noticed and for that I’m most grateful and appreciative of all the incredible things happening around me and around Afrobeats. I’m aware that there’s still much work to be done, one of my greatest desires is to be counted amongst the biggest exports from Africa to the world.”
Born and raised in Ogun State, the Lagos-based Afrobeats maverick began his career as a content creator, however realised that he could express himself more thoroughly through music, which saw him wander down a professional path. After honing his songwriting skills and finding his vocal tone, he released a string of singles that showcased the musical arsenal that he has amassed in a short space of time.
His viral hit single ‘Caution’ (2022) garnered him international acclaim and he quickly followed it up with a ‘Caution (Remix) featuring Skiibii, and a string of single releases in 2023 that cemented his status as one of the most exciting upcoming acts in Nigeria. He kicked off 2024 with ‘Girls Hostel’, available to stream on Apple Music, an Afrobeats ballad that reinforces his knack for writing catchy hooks, and now he’s dropped his hotly-anticipated debut solo project Brkfst EP, anchored in the meaty track ‘Billion Boy’ featuring Afrobeats star, Bella Shmurda.
As the newest ‘Up Next’ act to be spotlighted in Nigeria, Shoday will be featured across Apple Music’s ‘Up Next’ playlist. The curated Up Next playlist features a dynamic class of new and emerging artistes, thoughtfully hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world. The playlist is genre agnostic and represents a line-up of artistes our global editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience.
Shoday joins Qing Madi, Rain in April, Khaid, Ninety, Young Jonn, T.I Blaze, Browny Pondis, Ajebo Hustlers, Jaido P, Wavy The Creator and SGaWD as Apple Music’s growing stable of Up Next Artists from Nigeria.
The vast global Up Next roster of past talent includes Grammy-nominated and critically lauded talent like 6lack, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., Greta Van Fleet, Khalid, Amy Shark, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Claudio, Sigrid, Mr Eazi, Stefflon Don, Bad Bunny, Juice WLRD, Bazzi, Jax Jones, NCT 127, Summer Walker, Tierra Whack, Dean Lewis, Pink Sweat$, Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Clairo, Lunay, Jessie Reyez, Orville Peck, Victoria Monét, Ingrid Andress, Conan Gray, Don Toliver, Rema, BENEE, Holly Humberstone, Natanael Cano, Givēon, beabadoobee, Arlo Parks, Tate McRae, Foushee and Tems.
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