Ese: The Dynamic Voice of Nigerian Afrobeats

Ese is a Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter who has carved a distinct niche with her soulful vocals and vibrant productions. Hailing from Lagos, she achieved a major commercial milestone with her 2022 debut album "Vibrations," which spawned multiple charting singles and solidified her status as a rising star in the global Afropop scene.

Early career

Born Eseoghene Ojakovo in 1995, her musical journey began in Warri, Delta State, where she sang in church choirs and local talent shows. After relocating to Lagos to pursue music professionally, she independently released her first single "Fire" in 2018, which caught the attention of producers and led to her first label deal with Lagos-based imprint Groove Theory Records in 2019.

Breakthrough

Ese's breakthrough arrived in 2021 with the infectious summer anthem "Sunshine," released under a new partnership with Pan-African label Next World Music. The song became a viral sensation across West Africa, peaking at number 7 on Nigeria's TurnTable Top 100 and earning a gold certification in Ghana for over 10,000 unit sales.

Key tracks

Sunshine — This breakthrough single defined her sound with its upbeat percussion and catchy hook, dominating airwaves across Africa in 2021.

Vibrations — The title track from her debut album showcased her vocal range over a smooth, mid-tempo beat and became a fan favorite.

No Dey Carry Last — Featuring fellow Nigerian star Zico, this 2023 collaboration highlighted her versatility and scored a top 20 chart position.

Eko Love — A love letter to Lagos, this track's authentic lyrics and classic Afrobeats rhythm cemented her connection with her home city's audience.

The success of "Sunshine" paved the way for her debut album "Vibrations" in late 2022. The project debuted at number 3 on the Nigerian albums chart and featured collaborations with established acts like producer Killertunes. Following the album's release, Ese embarked on her first international tour, performing shows in London, Atlanta, and Toronto throughout 2023.

Her musical style blends contemporary Afrobeats with elements of R&B and highlife, creating an accessible yet distinctive sound. For similar artists in the vibrant Nigerian music scene, explore Tiwa Savage for powerful female vocals and stagecraft, Fireboy DML for melodic Afrobeats fusion, Ayra Starr for a youthful and genre-blending approach, and Omah Lay for smooth, introspective Afropop rhythms.

Ese's music maintains strong rotation on a variety of stations featured here, including major African pop FM stations, global Afrobeats online radio streams, and independent music radio stations that champion new international talent. Her hits are regularly featured in prime-time playlists.

Listeners can discover the vibrant Afrobeats sound of Ese by tuning into the radio stations available on onairium.com, where her catalog receives frequent airplay across our curated network of music channels.