Nigeria: Maka to launch new Afro-soul project

It's Not You, It's Me is testament to her musical growth over the years. The singer worked as a lawyer for several years until she decided to follow her true calling.

"I practised for a couple of years but I could not wait to do what I was most passionate about," she says. "Music has been the world to me for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to a lot of genres – surprisingly, more hip hop and classical than others.

"The soul genre seems to come very natural to me. I discovered my love for soul and jazz when I started listening to great singers like Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Lauryn Hill, Asa, Sade Adu, Erika Badu and Jill Scott.’

In 2016, Maka released her first EP The Truth, a hip hop/soul project produced by Teckzilla. One of its tracks, ‘Good Time’, was used as the official soundtrack for the movie Dinner.

As a performing artist, Maka embarked on so many shows to promote her EP that she hardly had time to get back into the studio.

"Although it has been three years since I released my last project, I have not stayed dormant in the industry. However, it feels good to finally have a project to present to my ever-supportive fans and even for myself."

Maka has performed at the Lagos Jazz Series, Badagry Festival and has been featured at numerous concerts around Lagos.

"It wasn't about anyone else but myself when I was making this project. The music just poured out of me once I got started. The nine-track LP is full of soul and is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of every listener," Maka said.