Kunmie on His Musical Journey, Creative Identity & Latest Release ‘Gorgeous’ ft. Lojay

From Lagos to the global stage, Kunmie is rapidly establishing himself as one of Nigeria’s most compelling new musical voices. A singer, songwriter, musician and producer, he has built a distinctive sound that blends Afrobeats, R&B and soul with intimate storytelling, silky vocals and a deeply personal sense of emotion.

Following the phenomenal success of his breakout single ‘Arike’ and debut EP Before We Became Strangers, Kunmie has entered a new chapter with ‘Gorgeous’, his collaboration with Lojay. Surpassing 10 million global streams and inspiring more than 300,000 TikTok videos, the soulful, heartfelt track has become a defining moment in his artistic evolution.

We caught up with Kunmie to talk about the inspiration behind ‘Gorgeous’, his creative process, working with Lojay and his journey towards becoming a truly global artist.

Who or what ignited your passion for music and drove you to pursue it as a career?

I’d say G4ZI.

Like I’ve said before, I already knew I could sing, and I knew I had a bit of a gift for writing – nothing close to where I am now, but I knew it was there.

One day, when we were in SS2 I think, G4ZI randomly texted me to say he had started making music. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting anything special because, growing up, he wasn’t the person you’d associate with music. He was more into sports when we were in school, so I just thought he was another young guy trying to make music.

Then he shared some of his ideas with me, and I was genuinely surprised. They were so good that they inspired me to want to create something great too.

When we started making music together, he was miles ahead of me in terms of quality and standards, so I spent a lot of time trying to catch up. We encouraged each other throughout that journey. People used to compare us all the time, but it never affected our relationship.

Looking back, my first real understanding that music could be a career came from seeing him pursue it. Watching him made me believe it was something I could do too.

How would you describe your sound in a way that sets you apart from the crowd, and why do you think it resonates with listeners?

I always struggle with questions about describing my sound.

If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s a collection of emotions. My music allows you to experience different feelings.

What I think sets me apart is the soul in my music. No matter what I’m talking about, whether it’s something lighthearted or something deeply serious – you’ll always hear or feel that soul. That’s what people connect with.

I also think that connection comes from years of experimenting, learning about myself, and discovering what makes me unique as an artist.

Your latest release ‘Gorgeous’ is making waves on all major platforms! Can you take us behind the scenes of its creation and share the story or feelings that inspired it?

I wrote Gorgeous because I was with someone I thought was gorgeous, but she didn’t see herself that way. The song was really my way of reminding her that she was.

Out of all the songs you’ve written, which one holds the deepest meaning for you, and what’s the story behind its emotional connection?

I’d say 22.

I wrote it to fully express what 2022 was like for me and just how difficult that period was. That was the year I asked God to make me special and to set me apart.

When I listen to the song now, it sounds very grown to me. It feels mature, and it sounds like someone who’s in a much better place.

It’s one of the songs I still go back to and listen to by myself. I actually have another song that means just as much to me, but it hasn’t been released yet.

Striking a chord with your audience while staying true to your artistry can be tricky – how do you navigate that balance?

That’s a really good question.

Right now, I still think I’m at the stage where I need to make music that connects with people at the most fundamental level. But I also want to get to a place where my music helps elevate the way people think.

As artists, we can’t keep giving people only what’s familiar because that eventually limits growth. At the same time, bringing something fresh doesn’t mean doing something outrageous just for the sake of it.

I believe you can make great music that pushes people a little further each time. Eventually, I want to get to a point where I can make music that might take people a little longer to fully understand, because I think that’s important.

But for now, my focus is still on making music that anyone can connect with.

What has been the most unforgettable or career-defining moment for you so far, and how did it shape you as an artist?

Honestly, everything has been career-defining.

Every co-sign, every stage I’ve performed on, every milestone, every stream – every single moment has meant something to me.

I don’t look back at one defining moment. I look back at everything collectively, because every experience has played a part in shaping my journey.

If you could pass on a single piece of wisdom to aspiring artists, what would it be, and why is it so important?

I’d simply say: find what makes you special, then keep practicing it.

Practice it over and over again until you become exceptional at it.

Don’t try to be everything at once. Instead, focus on what makes you unique and become the very best at that. Eventually, your preparation will meet your opportunity.

What exciting projects or goals do you have on the horizon, and how are you preparing to level up your artistry?

Right now, my album is the most important thing to me.

Sometimes my goals are so big that even I can’t fully wrap my head around them, so I try to take them one step at a time.

The next step is releasing this album, and hopefully being able to tour with it. That’s my biggest goal at the moment.

Lastly, is there anything you’d love to share with your supporters or something on your heart that we haven’t touched on?

I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s been supporting me.

God bless you all. Your support truly means a lot to me.

‘Gorgeous’ ft. Lojay is available now via all major platforms.

Connect with Kunmie

Instagram | TikTok | YouTube