My collaborations with Timaya, Mohbad, Seyi Vibez, others were my training ground —Nelly Baradi

Long before her debut single “Wake Up” began turning heads, Nelly Baradi’s haunting harmonies were already gracing some of Afrobeats’ biggest tracks—from Seyi Vibez’s “Saro” and “Chance (Na Ham)” to Mohbad’s “Peace” and “Ask About Me.”

“Those collaborations were my training ground,” Nelly says, looking back on the years she spent as a background vocalist for heavyweights like Timaya, Mohbad, and Seyi Vibez. “Watching greats work, adding harmonies that whispered under their leads, I learned restraint, intention, and presence. It taught me that music isn’t just about sound; it’s about feeling.”

For Nelly, those studio sessions were more than just gigs—they were classrooms. Working alongside some of Nigeria’s biggest stars, she absorbed lessons about craft, confidence, and the subtle magic that makes a song stick to the soul. But she’s quick to clarify that while those moments shaped her, they didn’t define her.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t say any one collaboration directly taught me my sound,” she explains. “At the time, I didn’t even know I could do what the guys were doing. I just knew I wanted to find my own voice in it. Watching them, especially male artists, hold space so boldly made me think, ‘Maybe I can do this… but in my own way.’ They pushed me to dig deeper, to find something that felt true to me. And ‘Wake Up’ is what came from that quiet confidence I was building.”

Born Nelly Toritseju Baradi in Sapele, Delta State, music was never just a hobby—it was the language of her childhood. Sapele, known for its rich musical roots, gave her gospel harmonies and soul depth; the church taught her how to pour emotion into every note. But it was her bold move to Lagos in 2018 that ignited the fire that now burns through every song she writes.

“Sapele gave me soul. Lagos gave me grit and rhythm,” she says. “I grew up on Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Tiwa Savage, so I’ve always been drawn to sounds that feel soft yet bold. My sound lives between vulnerability and vibe.”

Her breakout track, “Wake Up,” is proof of that signature blend—a sensual, mid-tempo Afro-R&B track that feels as intimate as a secret and as urgent as a confession. The song started, she says, the way many of her songs do: with a single phrase looping in her mind until it demanded to be fleshed out.

“It usually starts with a feeling, sometimes just a phrase,” she says. “For ‘Wake Up,’ it was ‘All I want is you when I wake up.’ That line just stayed with me. I layer harmonies like emotions—some loud, some subtle, but all intentional. Every song has to breathe and bleed.”

While her background vocals have already reached millions, Nelly is now stepping forward with a voice entirely her own—fearless, soulful, and brimming with stories that demand to be heard. Her recent feature on “Dirty” alongside Oxlade, Kohdee, and Kemuel revealed yet another layer of her artistry, showcasing her ability to shift effortlessly from soft harmonies to bolder, sultrier deliveries.

But for Nelly Baradi, it’s never been just about making hits—it’s about making music that lingers, connects, and feels deeply human. Her sound, like her journey, is proof that patience, humility, and quiet confidence can make the loudest noise in the end.

“My collaborations were my training ground,” she says again, this time with a smile. “Now, it’s my turn to stand in my own light—and I’m ready.”

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