Bukola Balogun’s storytelling transcends traditional songs genres

By: Isabella Urbani, Team Writer

It is been a single 12 months because the release of nearby talent Bukola Balogun’s debut EP, The Chronicles of a Teenage Intellect. The SFU student was hailed by CBC as “one of the major 10 soulful feminine artists” through their 2020 Searchlight level of competition. She also experienced the prospect to perform along with Grammy Award and JUNO Award winning producers for her EP. Because then, Balogun explained she discovered to just take the reins additional on initiatives, which include much more dangers musically, obtaining her audio, and trusting her eyesight. 

Balogun started her music occupation when she was just nine several years previous and emerged on the scene in 2018 with her first massive general performance at The Roxy. Just around a thirty day period later, Balogun was a performer at the JUNO Awards pre-clearly show and she promptly garnered the consideration of the local and national new music scene.

Balogun draws a lot of inspiration from combining a trio of sounds: jazz, ‘90s/early 2000s R&B, and acoustic soul. 

“I’ve really admired artists like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Tiana Important9, H.E.R., and Summer months Walker,” Balogun shared. “Their ability to include the guitar into their songs in this sort of a fresh way has impressed a good deal of the newer tunes I’m generating suitable now.” When it comes to crafting her have new music, the guitar is an “essential part” of her music. Jazz chords and harmonies are also a should for Balogun as she is a fan of jazz chord progressions. 

However, when it arrives to the foreseeable future, Balogun is seeking to faucet into afrobeat. Listeners may well get a chance to encounter this shift this summertime when Balogun will release what she’s referred to as her favorite song. When it arrives to her songs, Balogun hopes that listeners can recognize all the aspects separately that make up a music. “From the melody, to the lyrics, to the vocal supply. All the sections of the track help to inform the story.

“I think what sets me apart from other musicians is actually me, if that makes feeling. The way I participate in guitar, coupled with my musical influences, my composing and singing type helps make me exceptional,” said Balogun, admitting this has been a lesson she realized together the way. “It took me a while to realize that by staying true to myself, I am distinctive from other musicians mainly because no 1 else can be me, but me.”

Balogun’s opening keep track of on her debut EP, “Expensive Diary Lessons,” is a testomony to coming of age, opening with a near two minute monologue about how the singer perceived herself from childhood to her teenage years. This involved comprehending that love is not always a two-way street, obtaining her possess “armour,” and coming to embrace the way she appears to be in its place of “altering her mannerisms” and visual appearance for others’ acceptance. 

What stood out most to me after a whole pay attention as a result of the EP is how it tends to make you want to dance gleefully. Although every single track is distinctive, it’s very clear how Balogun pays homage to several artists. When I listen to her tune “Struggle For Me,” I really feel the same uncontrollable smile creep on to my confront as I do when I hear Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Information On.” When I listen to Balogun’s most streamed music “I Am Enough,” I listen to the extraordinary harmonies that produced bands like Destiny’s Little one and TLC so likable. 

Balogun would make difficult subject matters, like self-really worth, into new music beautifully crafted for the ears. Her storytelling effortlessly translates into song, aided by the clean jazz and R&B backing tracks. Someway, it feels like more than songs. It feels like sitting down with a friend and owning a soulful conversation — chronicling the inner workings of a teenage coronary heart. 

You can obtain out far more about Balogun by heading to her web site or listening to her audio.

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