Somi on African influences, women in jazz and finding her voice

Born in the US to Rwandan and Ugandan parents, Somi has developed a distinctive artistic identity that extends beyond music. Her work spans jazz, soul, theatre and storytelling, with her African heritage providing an important foundation for her creative expression. She has also worked as a playwright and actress, including on Broadway.

Across her career, Somi has used music to explore identity, womanhood, African history and the experiences of the diaspora. Her influences include African music pioneers such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Papa Wemba and Tabu Ley Rochereau, alongside international artists including Sade and Seal. As she joins Spotify’s EQUAL programme, Somi reflects on her artistic journey, the women who shaped her and the importance of creating space for the next generation of African women in music.

SPOTIFY: What is one surprising thing your fans might not know about you?

SOMI: It might surprise people to know that I'm also a playwright and actor who has worked on Broadway.

What first drew you to music, and what continues to inspire you to create?

I can't say that I have ever had a moment when I realised music was my destiny, but I know that nothing else makes me feel as alive and connected as singing does. I'm grateful for that knowledge and the opportunities I've had to use my gift in this lifetime. I keep pursuing music because of the joy it brings me and the stories I'm able to uplift and share with others along the way.

Which African songs or artists did you grow up listening to?

Miriam Makeba, Koffi Olomide, Sade, Papa Wemba, Jimmy Katumba, Afrigo, Seal, Khadja Nin, Cecile Kayirebwa, Hugh Masekela and Tabu Ley Rochereau.

To someone discovering your music for the first time, how would you describe your sound?

Story-based songs framed by modern jazz, pan-African grooves and soulful intimacy.

What advice would you give to someone who is afraid to follow their dreams?

Listen to your heart, never be afraid of being your whole self, and always be honest with the music. Your audience will feel it deeply and thank you for it.

How do you navigate the music industry as a woman, and how has that shaped your artistry?

So many of my songs are informed by the embodied experience of being a woman. That is something I did not set out to do, but as I continue on this journey, I feel more and more thankful for it. I believe it is important for women not only to share our lived experiences through our artistry, but also to provide examples for future generations so they have the confidence to take up more space both on stage and behind the scenes.

African women have not been very visible on international jazz stages, despite the vibrant community that I know exists across the continent. As the first African woman nominated in a Grammy jazz category, it is never lost on me that I stand on the shoulders of giants like Miriam Makeba, Cesaria Evora and Letta Mbulu.

Being able to represent that lineage, and the many voices of African women globally, is something for which I am both humbled and grateful. More importantly, I hope my work helps create space for future voices from the continent, whether they work within or beyond the jazz category.

What has navigating the music industry as a woman taught you, and what does being part of the EQUAL programme mean to you?

To make music as a woman, to lead bands, build a label, and hold onto your own voice, is to work in rooms that weren't designed for you. That work is often invisible and rarely without cost. EQUAL matters to me because it insists that women’s voices don’t just belong here; they shape what this industry becomes. To be lifted alongside so many women artists around the planet, at this moment in my life, and in this chapter of my work, means so much. Thank you for the honour.