At a time when the music industry often prizes quick hits and social buzz, Banké Naya is taking a different route—choosing authenticity over algorithms.
Her debut EP, Naya, released on September 5, 2025, is not just a body of work but a manifesto of transformation, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
Born Shalom Oluwabanke Adetumbi, the singer-songwriter has been steadily building her craft for years. But this release marks a turning point—one captured in her decision to add “Naya” to her name, meaning rebirth. It is both a personal declaration and an artistic statement.
“The EP came from a transitional time in my life,” Banké Naya revealed. “It’s about becoming—learning who I am, what I stand for, and accepting that the journey doesn’t always come with clear answers.”
Six Tracks, Six Journeys
The six-track project pulls listeners into her world with unflinching honesty:
Thirty — a reflective piece on entering a new decade of life, balancing wisdom with the weight of uncertainty.
Fighter — the most personal song on the project, confronting her lived experience with Sickle Cell Disorder and the resilience it demands.
Calvary, Pressure, and Woman — universal explorations of struggle, identity, and feminine strength.
Naya (title track) — a sonic anchor for the EP, tying her journey of renewal together.
The sound is rooted in Afropop and soul, but what sets it apart is Banké’s writing—intimate, unfiltered, and fearless.
Built at Home, Carried Across Borders
Naya is deeply independent at its core. Banké recorded the entire project in her home studio, weaving in collaborations with writers like Blaizn, Duduboy, Daveszn, and Ceeside. Production credits stretch across Nigeria and the UK, with Duktorsett, Dannybeats, Jenbeatz, and Abiodun blending her Lagos heritage with her UK base, creating a cross-cultural soundscape that feels both global and grounded.
An Anthem of Becoming
More than music, Naya plays as a companion for anyone navigating uncertainty. It doesn’t hide the cracks—it lets the light in through them. Themes of growth, vulnerability, and survival run through each track, offering reassurance that becoming is rarely neat but always necessary.
The release will be celebrated with a live listening party at the Performing Room in Northampton, a prelude to Banké Naya’s next chapter of shows and releases.
Why It Matters
Banké Naya’s debut doesn’t chase perfection or trends. Instead, it embraces honesty and identity—qualities that stand to resonate more deeply than any viral moment. Naya isn’t just an introduction; it’s a declaration that her artistry begins here, in truth, and in becoming.
