American-Rwandan-Ugandan singer-songwriter Somi has been selected as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa Artist for August, coinciding with the release of her new album What Does It Take to Bloom? on August 7 via Salon Africana.
The 13-track album, led by the single “We’re All Falling,” was co-produced by Somi and Benjamin James of Nigerian highlife duo The Cavemen. It features contributions from The Cavemen and saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, and was recorded in Dakar, Lagos, Paris, and New York.
Somi, born in Illinois to Rwandan and Ugandan parents, made history as the first African woman to receive a Grammy nomination in a jazz category, earning a Best Jazz Vocal Album nod for her live album Holy Room.
Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme aims to amplify the visibility of women artists across the continent and connect them with global audiences.
“Somi’s artistry is a powerful testament to the rich, transcendent legacy of African jazz and storytelling,” said Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for Sub-Saharan Africa. “As a barrier-breaking artist who continues to carve out space for African women on international stages, she perfectly embodies the spirit of the EQUAL programme. We are honoured to celebrate her voice and vision this August.”
Somi reflected on the challenges women face in the industry: “To make music as a woman, to lead bands, build a label, and hold onto your own voice, is to work in rooms that weren’t designed for you. That work is often invisible and rarely without cost.”
“EQUAL matters to me because it insists that women’s voices don’t just belong here; they shape what this industry becomes. To be lifted alongside so many women artists around the planet, at this moment in my life, and in this chapter of my work, means so much. Thank you for the honour.”
