Nigeria: Bella Shmurda shares Loner single

Delivered in English, Pidgin and Yoruba, the record, driven on the artist’s distinct vocals over drums, strings and keyboards, unfurls as a soulful exploration of solitude and reminiscence, inviting listeners into a world of introspection and emotion.

On ‘Loner’, Bella Shmurda chronicles his journey in music and personal life. Lyrics like “If I no tell you, tell me how you want to know?” remind listeners that there is often more than meets the eye and more that they will not know about him as a person or an artist.

According to a statement, this sentiment is “very intentional from Bella Shmurda as he has in recent years grown into his artistry and personality, often prioritising privacy of personal matters over public attention.”

‘Loner’, which boasts additional vocals from fellow Nigerian singer Lyta, is his first single of the year and the lead single from his upcoming EP. The artist, in the middle of an international tour including his nine-city UK stop, is also due to release an LP later in the year. His previous body of work include High Tension, High Tension 2.0 and Hypertension.

Hailing from Lagos, Bella Shmurda, who has been a mainstream act for five years, has created and collaborated on over 80 songs with artists such as Olamide, Davido and Runtown.

An alumnus of the YouTube Music Foundry Class, Bella Shmurda’s work has amassed over 1.5 billion streams across digital platforms.