Somi Kakoma - the Grammy-nominated vocalist-composer, playwright, and Broadway actor known in the jazz world simply as Somi — was born in Illinois to parents who emigrated from Rwanda and Uganda. She discovered her musical identity traversing the cultural bridge between Africa and America. Closely mentored by the legendary trumpet player Hugh Masekela, Somi has carved out her own path as an artist, scholar, and activist. After a whirlwind stretch of new creative heights in the world of theater, her forthcoming album is the long-awaited return to her singer-songwriter roots. Written while in Lagos, Dakar, Paris, and New York, Somi offers an Afropolitan sonic travelogue that weaves deeply personal storytelling with modern jazz and African groove. Somis intense live performances often invite comparisons to Nina Simone. She herself sees herself as a representative of a transatlantic sound that embodies the diverse worlds of African, as well as American jazz, soul, and pop.

Link to audio sample