Spotify has named Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Joyce Olong as its EQUAL Africa Artist for May, shining a global spotlight on one of the most distinctive voices on the continent’s alternative music scene.
Known for her genre-blurring style and fiercely independent approach, Olong represents a new wave of African artists pushing the boundaries of sound. With roots in alt music, African rhythms, and dub textures, her sonic palette resists easy categorization. “It’s elite music,” she says. “Different on this side.”
Born and raised in Nigeria, Joyce Olong is more than a performer. She’s a self-sufficient creator who writes, sings, produces, and engineers her own music. This hands-on involvement in every layer of her artistry has earned her recognition as a trailblazer within Africa’s growing alternative movement.
Spotify’s EQUAL programme was created to amplify the voices of women in music globally, and Olong’s inclusion this May underscores her rising influence and refusal to conform to industry expectations.
Her music is a carefully layered experience, shaped by years of experimentation and rooted in emotional depth. “Music has always felt like home,” she says. “I’ve always felt like a vessel — like my job is to translate the sounds in my head or stories around me into something others can feel.”
She cites Asa, Styl-Plus, Lagbaja, and Nel Oliver as early influences, while contemporary alt-African pioneers like Lady Donli, Odunsi, and Tay Iwar inspired her to embrace her unique voice and creative direction.
Away from the studio, Joyce Olong also finds expression through crochet — a hobby she picked up to unwind between sessions and now uses to craft pieces for herself and friends.
Navigating the music industry as a woman has shaped her into a resilient and intentional creator. “Every woman in music should take time to learn the business side too,” she advises. “Now that I feel more grounded, I’m excited to use my experience as a producer, songwriter, and engineer to help shift the culture — especially for women like me.”
Her advice to aspiring dreamers? “Stay faithful to your craft and don’t compromise your essence just to fit in. Your authenticity is your superpower.”
With the EQUAL Artist spotlight, Spotify amplifies Olong’s message and music to a wider audience, highlighting a talent whose work is not just to be heard but felt.
