Canada-based Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Nonso Amadi shares a refreshed version of his 2022 track “Foreigner,” this time joined by Chase Shakur and Projexx, out now via Def Jam Recordings/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company.
Originally released in February 2022, “Foreigner” marked Nonso’s return after a hiatus from releasing music. The original track is featured on Nonso’s acclaimed debut album When It Blooms, released earlier this year and has over 17 million combined global streams – one of Nonso’s highest streaming singles to date. Nonso thoughtfully teams up with rising Atlanta-born R&B artist Chase Shakur and singer, producer from Kingston, Jamaica, Projexx on a renewed version gives more depth to the seductive jazz elements alongside tantalizing African drumlines and instrumentation. Nonso shares, “This remix is a fresh revamp on one of my favourite records. Projexx’s melody and groove makes you wanna dance. I got put on to Chase Shakur fairly recently and I’ve been fan since he brings nice R&B balance to the record.”
The remix continues a theme for Nonso as he released his debut album which he noted as one of his most collaborative projects yet. The record included features from Zinoleesky, BEAM, Tay Iwar and Tamera. Outside of the album, this year Amadi hopped on multiple tracks from artists in his creative community including three-time historic JUNO Award winner Savannah Ré for a remix of her track “Closure,” he also joined Swiss/ Ghanaian rapper and producer Pronto on the track “Danger” with German group, 255. Most recently, Amadi teamed up with producer duo Emotional Oranges for their latest track “Nowhere,” which received praise from CBC Music, Rolling Stone and Wonderland Magazine. Collaborations are essential not only to fuelling Amadi’s creativity but are also instrumental in continuing to spread the Afrobeats genre globally.
ABOUT NONSO AMADI
Nonso Amadi is a Canadian-based Afro-R&B, soul singer, songwriter, and producer from Nigeria. Beginning his musical career while studying in Nigeria at Covenant University and then Swansea University in the UK. Nonso transformed into a sonic-globetrotter after his move to Canada – leading him to fuse the soul & rhythm of African music with modern soft textures of R&B. With an affinity for contemporary R&B, Nonso developed a desire to explore North America and Africa in equal parts – citing Toronto-native Drake’s genre-hopping capability as an inspiration for his own creative fluidity. Amadi’s music is powered by borderless infusions and intention. “I really loved Mary J Blige, Brandy, Wyclef Jean, Paul Play. I love R&B because it’s slow enough to allow you to feel,” he says of his early experiences with the artform.
Early on, Nonso’s refreshingly honest yet tranquil approach to music has allowed the likes of Burna Boy, Juls, and Santi that entrenched his arrival across Nigeria and the continent at large across the late ‘10’s. Since then, he has collaborated with artists from around the world including three-time Juno Award winning artist Savannah Ré, Switzerland-based, Nigerian rapper and producer Pronto, producer duo Emotional Oranges and more. Collaborations are essential not only to fuelling Amadi’s creativity but are also instrumental in continuing to spread the Afrobeats genre globally.
After introducing himself with EPs released including 2017’s War, released with Odunsi The Engine and the 2019 breakout Free EP, this year Nonso released his powerfully personal full length album When It Blooms, marking a culmination of affirming successes. Upon release, Nonso landed prestigious cover placements across streaming platforms with the album garnering over 60 million streams and praise from the likes of Billboard, COMPLEX, Teen Vogue, MTV and more.
Since returning from a hiatus, Nonso’s efforts have been ratified by the industry; between being featured as Spotify’s Radar Artist, making the top of the list for Audiomack Africa x The Beat’s “Alte Vibes” playlist and more. The SOCAN Foundation announced Nonso Amadi as one of the winners of the SiriusXM Black Canadian Music Awards alongside Adria Kain, AHI, Desarae Dee and Zach Zoya. With the album, Amadi cements himself in the vanguard of the next generation artists bringing Alte and Afro-R&B to the international stage. Nonso Amadi capped off last year with the announcement that he had been selected to be a part of the ‘VEVO DSCVR Artists to Watch 2023.’
CONNECT WITH NONSO AMADI:
