Music is this universal medium for connecting with people. One of my favorite things is to watch how people’s bodies respond to my songs. I’ve always tried to make music that tells stories or helps you heal, so that someone can dig into it and carry it for themselves. My single ‘Joy’ was nominated for a Headie, which is one of the bigger Nigerian music awards. People send me messages like, ‘I start my day with that song. It's amazing.’ So music can be anything: it can make you laugh, dance, vibe. It's so powerful. I feel really blessed to be able to do what I do.

My mom grew up in Lagos, and my dad is from outside Abeokuta. Growing up, we would come back every year. A lot of children of immigrants have that experience where their identity has been built in two different places, so Lagos is very much a part of my family's story. I've lived in a lot of different cities, so my connection to Lagos is unique — it was like coming home. I've been going between Lagos and London, which is exciting. It’s cool to be a part of the cultural scene in London, and how it connects to the Nigerian story.

Nothing is ever premeditated for me — whether it's a book I read or a person I met, something draws me to a place. I met a musician in Cuba who thought it would be cool if I could play with them. Next thing you know, I was studying music in Havana. Then I toured around to Holguín and Santiago de Cuba, where I started playing the cajón. It just organically happened; the spirit aligned things. As an artist, I've always naturally gravitated to unconventional things. It's a bit of a crazy way to live life, but it's also exciting.

I'm grateful that I've been able to experience different cultures. It changes who you are and your mindset. It's very easy to think about where you are as your entire world — it’s really cool to be able to connect with someone who's lived a completely different life. I always feel very humbled to be able to think about my life as a nomad, meeting people from all walks of life.

I have an obsession with language. I'm trying to learn Nigerian Sign Language alongside ASL. I light up whenever I think about the power of language, and being able to connect with different people in different ways. People's true personalities come out when they're speaking the language they're comfortable with.

Definitely a window seat. I don't have patience for flights, so I have this ability to fall asleep and wake up 30 minutes before the flight lands — no matter how long the flight is. It's a superpower.

Nigeria is definitely a hub for creativity. What is so exciting now is that we're in a time where, with globalization and the internet, we really have the opportunity to export unique stories to the world, and truly represent Nigerian identity on a global scale. Nigeria is synonymous with creativity, so it's a really beautiful time to be in Lagos.

Alára is a hub for food, fashion, culture and luxury, which really pushes boundaries. They also have a restaurant: NOK by Alára. It’s a visual spectacle in the middle of Victoria Island, where you can tap into West African fashion, arts and culture. So Alára will always be special for me. Then you should definitely try The Amala in NOK. They have amazing drinks made with distinctly local ingredients.

I always take people to Jevinik, because they have a massive menu. If you want to try Nigerian food for the first time, they have almost every single possibility. What I like about it is that it has every type of soup, swallow and meat from every part of Nigeria. And the portions are really large, so it’s easy to share. ÌTÀN is by world-renowned chef Michael Elégbèdé. He's created this contemporary fusion of traditional Nigerian food and ingredients. That's definitely somewhere that you need to go if you get a chance.

Rowe Park is a sport park in Yaba. It's not the most fancy place, but what you’ll find there are people who are really passionate, from all different classes, who just want to play. It's definitely somewhere I recommend to people who are OK with going off the beaten track. What I find the most meaningful are experiences that allow me to really connect with people.

New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja is the historically famous shrine that is affiliated with the Kuti family — Femi, Seun, and Made Kuti play there regularly. If you come in October, you can go to Felabration: a festival that honors the life and legacy of Fela Kuti. It's a really cool space with good vibes that you don't want to miss. If you're coming for music, December is the best time to come, because every artist that you love will most likely have their own show or a festival.

I really like hFACTOR. It’s a hub with fashion, creative and arts events, and parties. It is really about community. One of my favorite things is that they have this rooftop where you can see all of Lagos Island. When the sun is setting, it's really pretty. It’s even better if it's a party — they have an amazing DJ that will come and spin, and it's a really cool vibe.

WAFFLESNCREAM is a brand centered around Lagos skate culture. They do a lot of different activities outside of skateboarding, like yoga and film nights. They really create a community of people who are into their own vibe and champion authenticity. I love everything they represent and own a lot of their pieces.

I like ‘Life’s Gone Down Low’ or ‘Danger’ by the Lijadu Sisters. There's something about their music that stands out and makes me feel like Lagos in a cool way. Rhythmically and melodically, they encompass different vibes and sounds.

Nigeria has so much to offer. In spite of some of the political and structural challenges, there's still so much beauty. It's important to be proud of and celebrate those things as much as you can. Lagos is like an oxymoron: it's incredibly invigorating and you can meet amazing people everywhere, but it can also be really intense. It can be challenging in many ways, but it's also so exciting to see everything that we create every day. Lagos teaches me about gratitude in a way that is different from anywhere else in the world.

Rhythm. I've traveled a lot, and something I always find interesting is the rhythm of the city. There's an authenticity in my creative process that I can achieve because Lagos is in sync with my rhythm. Even just being able to collaborate with like-minded people who have a similar story and roots — that shared identity is special when you're creating, because it gives your work a really beautiful foundation. There's a grounding that happens in Lagos for me.