On April 25, Uwade released her highly anticipated debut album, Florilegium. Borrowing its name from the Latin word meaning “flower-gathering,” Florilegium is a shimmering collection of songs that feel both timeless and deeply personal.

Inspired by ancient poets like Catullus and Virgil, as well as modern icons like Nina Simone and Julian Casablancas, Uwade crafts a soundscape that explores renewal, love, and heritage. It’s a breathtaking debut that solidifies her arrival as a vital breakout artist.

With a voice that radiates warmth and vulnerability, Uwade has quietly but unmistakably become one of the most distinctive new voices in music. Her emotive vocals first captured the world’s attention when they opened Fleet Foxes’ Grammy-nominated 2020 album Shore, and since then, she’s earned acclaim from The New York Times, NPR, and audiences worldwide. Raised between the choral hymns of her youth and the Nigerian Highlife her father played on long car rides, Uwade blends her cultural roots with the literary richness of her academic life—having studied Classics at both Columbia and Oxford, and currently pursuing her PhD.

Uwade Blooms in Brooklyn at Her First U.S. Headline Show

On a warm spring night in Brooklyn, Uwade officially stepped into her own spotlight with her first-ever U.S. headline show at Baby’s All Right—and what a debut it was. The intimate venue, glowing with its signature neon and eclectic charm, proved to be the perfect setting for a night that felt like a gathering of kindred spirits.

The night before the release of her debut album Florilegium, Uwade’s performance was a mesmerizing blend of emotional honesty and graceful poise. Her voice, both tender and commanding, filled every corner of the room as she led the audience through the rich, carefully cultivated blooms of her new songs. She performed tracks like “The Man Who Sees Tomorrow” and “Do You See the Light Around Me?” in a quiet, soul-stirring way that had the audience hanging on every note.

As she closed with a stunning, stripped-down rendition of “Obsidian,” it was clear: Uwade isn’t just an artist to watch—she’s one to treasure.