IT’S WURLD'S WORLD WITH U IN IT
BY DINO TAKASHI
Sadiq Onifade ALSO known with his mononym WURLD has spunk and is more than ready and set to conquer the world’s bigger stages. WURLD’s undeniably mesmerizing vocals paired with his addictive take on Afrobeats make him one of the hottest rising stars in music right now.
PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA
WURLD is an artist that knows what he wants. He has that alluring appeal that easily transcends to a diverse audience. He’s eloquent, determined and proud to share his own take on Afrobeats to the world.
WURLD is an act that is worthy of sharing the same recognition with his early predecessors, Nigerian music superstars Davido, WizKid and most recently Burna Boy (who just had a Grammy). WURLD is here to continue all the groundwork laid for Nigerian music to catapult in the global music scene.
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria and educated in Atlanta, WURLD already has an idea of the world he is revolving in and what he can contribute to make it even better. He sports blue hair and dresses up with a style carefully curated to match his personality and the music that he makes.
With musical influences like Sade, Coldplay, Kanye West, Fela Kuti and Whitney Houston, he blends pure artistry and songwriting in making music that don’t fit in one space. He describes himself as an unpredictable artist, because his music goes on a wider range. He wants you to listen and experience his music in different moods. And that’s what makes his music so special – it’s meant to be consumed by anyone in different moods and variety of vibes.
As WURLD is set to show the progression of his music and finalizing an album set to come up before 2021 wraps up, we had a chat with him and talked about how he came up with his stage name, how he sees Afrobeats in the next five years, what he is currently busy with while introducing himself as a Nigerian artist who makes music for the world.
STYLING: BRITTON LITTOW, PR: CABINE CREATIVE
Jumpsuit and Vest: VICTOR LI, Jewelry: DAVID YURMAN AND WURLD’S OWN
Tell us where is WURLD from and how are you?
I’m good! I was born in Lagos, Nigeria but I went to college in Atlanta, Georgia and I go back and forth between LA and Lagos. LA is more home to me now.
Why did you choose your stage name?
The early stages of me trying to find myself in Atlanta and working with a producer at the time, we were trying to figure out what sound to do and the first songs that we did I started sharing it with my friends. They were like “this music sounded like some world music, some international music. That was the response right. All my friends, close friends said the same thing. My music sounds like songs that don't fit in one space. I initially spelled it WORLD, but I thought it would be hard for people to find me and keep up with the word WORLD. Later I changed it to WURLD, world with “U” in it. I’m defining my name with this new upcoming album
How would you describe Afrobeats to people who haven’t listened to it yet?
Three words: rhythm, fresh and spiritual
Jumpsuit and Vest: VICTOR LI, Jewelry: DAVID YURMAN AND WURLD’S OWN
Where do you see Afrobeats in the next five years?
I think Afrobeats is going to be more dominant everywhere or recognized. Everything that's magic takes time. I think it is going to have a lot more impact. Afrobeats just like anything else are growing every day, there are more amazing artists, there's a certain level in the world that in five years it's going to be a wider range. I see a fusion in Pop music, alternative, country and collaboration that’s gonna be a lot more range of what we know now. A lot of the newer artists are going to start to experiment so it’s going to get bigger definitely for sure.
If I have just met you and I'm totally clueless of what you do, how would you describe yourself as an artist?
Unpredictable - I have a lot of range in my music because of my background and from writing and working with different musicians. I am an African born artist making world music and I do a lot of experiments with my sound. You will not know what you’re going to get every time but it's always exciting to look forward to.
Jumpsuit and Vest: VICTOR LI, Jewelry: DAVID YURMAN AND WURLD’S OWN
When are you releasing this full album?
The last last part of the year. We're finalizing the details and actual dates but it's going to be like towards the end of the year. I have a song that is going to come out this summer, I’ll start to share it slowly. This sound Is the progression from everything that I've done in the past. That's just me growing as an artist showing a different range as an artist and as a creative. I can't wait to share another side of me because you can't share the same thing every time in this new stage and new phase and new vibration. I'm excited about the album. I’ll say it has a different sound and different songs for different moods on this album. That's the best way to say it.
If I were to ask you where and when would you want to listen to WURLD’s music?
You can listen to WURLD everywhere. I've been creating my own playlist. If you’re heading to the club and you want to get really, really amped up, when you get to the club it's going to be that song that is being played right at the peak of the moment. There are a lot of songs that can make you calm and focused. If you wanna make babies and you wanna be with a special somebody, I recommend a lot of songs as well. I create songs for a lot of moods. This new album is a continuation of that.
Who are your musical influences?
Coldplay, Kanye West, Fela Kuti, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey. it's wide range Sade, Seal you know what is the wide range but all these artist have something in common- they have something to say they have something special to give, not fabricated, but pure artistry, pure intentions and purpose that’s really inspiring and giving the world something special. I feel like I'm a definitely that type of artist as well. It's really about motivating and inspiring and giving the world something that's timeless every time yeah that's it.
Which artist do you dream off collaborating with?
Coldplay, Pharrell are on the top of my head.
Jumpsuit and Vest: VICTOR LI, Jewelry: DAVID YURMAN AND WURLD’S OWN
How would you advise young artists, especially those who are not from America, who are trying to conquer or break the barriers of the American music scene?
You know what, stay consistent because it takes time. A lot of time takes time is really what makes people pay attention when you show up and you're consistent with your brand, your ideas. That's what makes you who you are. It's good to be inspired by so many other artists. But your identity is very important when it comes to consistency. People only identify you when you're consistent
If you were a book what would you be and why?
A geography book, I'll be the World or Renaissance.
LEFT: Jumpsuit and Vest: VICTOR LI, Jewelry: DAVID YURMAN AND WURLD’S OWN
RIGHT: Jacket: DAILY PAPER
