Hardly has the air of inevitability been as strong around an artiste as it is around Smada. From scoring streams in the high hundreds of thousands to being in the company of the industry’s biggest players, the young Afrofusion sensation has placed himself in the perfect position to be the next big thing out of Nigeria’s vibrant music scene. He has not had things easy, but what’s a fairytale story without a little hardship?
Born Adams Olabode Michael, Smada has been in love with music from a very young age. Inspired by superstars like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, Smada decided to go professional in 2018. But just like it is for everyone without the backing of a thick wallet or a big label, Smada would soon find out how difficult it was to cut it as an independent artiste in the industry. But by 2019, he discovered a little secret weapon that would expand his fanbase beyond the walls of UNILAG where he schooled. The secret? Social media.
The bird app became his medium of choice. Content creation became a major part of his promotion strategy and it immediately paid dividends. His following on Twitter grew rapidly, and more importantly, more people began to appreciate his music. So by July 2020 when he released his debut project “Super Smada”, there were a ton of fans waiting to consume his art. August 2021 was when things got really crazy for him. He released “Family” an Amapiano record on which he celebrated individuals who have been instrumental to his story thus far. The song got massive airplay and a seal of approval from Don Jazzy himself.
Riding on the wave of that success, he released his sophomore EP, “NÜNIVERSE” 4 months later. It features Wani, Azanti, and Teezee and consisted of a total of 5 songs. The reception was very positive and the project opened doors that were otherwise closed to him. Invites to perform on bigger stages and private audiences with major artistes became a day-to-day part of his life.
There remains a final few levels to unlock for Smada, but he certainly has a lot to be grateful for, all things considered. A mix of his fun personality, simple and effective lyricism and surprisingly mellow vocals means he has all the right tools to grow his brand even bigger. And if the hundreds of thousands of play across all digital streaming platforms and cosigns from the likes of Davido and Buju – sorry, BNXN – are anything to go by, it’s only a matter of time and a few releases keeping Smada from sitting comfy with the big boys.
