Hakeem Oladimeji Popoola, known professionally as Soundwise, moved from Lagos to Middlesbrough, with his talent, curiosity and vision. This vision that has now evolved into Soundwise Session a fast-rising performance platform giving African and emerging global artists a space to be heard, seen, and celebrated.
With roots in Nigeria’s gospel music space and fresh off a BBC Introducing feature, Hakeem is combining his love for music, storytelling, and digital media to build something different. He’s played at major festivals like Twisterella and Wave Sunderland, collaborated on viral tracks like Agbara Olorun Po, and is now using his digital skills to craft high-quality live session content that blends music, interviews, and meaning.
In this interview, he opens up about the beginnings of Soundwise Session, the loneliness that sparked its birth, and how he’s using it to create space for underrepresented artists in the UK and beyond.
Let’s start from the beginning. You moved from Lagos to the UK and built a creative platform from scratch. What was that shift like for you personally and creatively?
The shift was both jarring and illuminating. Creatively, I went from Nigeria’s vibrant, communal music spaces to suddenly working in isolation. But that loneliness birthed clarity, I realized if I needed a platform to bridge cultures, others did too. Soundwise became that solution.
Soundwise Session is doing something special. Give us the gist of how it started and did you always know it would become this big?
Soundwise Session was born from a very personal place my own loneliness as a Nigerian artist adjusting to life in Middlesbrough. I missed the creative community I’d left behind in Lagos. One day, while playing piano in Teesside University’s music room, I realized: If I’m feeling this isolation, others must be too. That’s when I grabbed my camera and started documenting raw, intimate performances first with friends, then with strangers who became collaborators.
Did I know it would grow this big? Honestly, no. I just knew the need was real. The magic happened when artists like Myleen Chivasa and Loren Heat trusted the platform with their talent, and audiences responded passionately. What began as my antidote to isolation became proof that when you create space for authenticity, community follows. Now, seeing artists land record deals or connect with global fans through the Sessions? That’s the dream but it started simply by hitting ‘record’ in a university piano room.
You’ve described the idea as something that grew out of a season of “artistic loneliness.” Can you tell us more about that time in your life and how it shaped the platform?
That season taught me displacement can be creative fuel. As an African artist in the UK, I felt caught between worlds. Soundwise became the community hub I wished existed – where artistry isn’t divorced from cultural roots
You’re not just curating others, you’re a performer yourself. How do you balance your solo music journey with building Soundwise Session?
I approach both as complementary: my artist projects inform what platform artists need, while curating others refines my own craft. The throughline is always storytelling – whether through my gospel-electronica fusion or amplifying others’ voices.
You’ve worked with artists like Loren Heat, Myleen Chivasa, and Mercy. What do you look for when choosing who to feature on the platform?
Three non-negotiables: authentic cultural perspective, technical excellence, and that intangible ‘hunger.’ Our featured artists like Loren Heat and Myleen exemplify this – artists honoring their roots while pushing boundaries
A lot of creatives struggle to find community abroad. How has Soundwise Session helped you build one and what kind of response have you received from other African artists in the UK?
The response revealed a pent-up need. African artists here often perform in silos. Soundwise has become a meeting point – our YouTube comments section alone shows artists connecting for collaborations beyond our platform.
You clearly care about excellence from the sound to the visuals. What’s the process behind creating each episode of Soundwise Session?
Each episode is a three-act play: pre-production cultural research, live capture with cinema-grade tools, then post-production where we blend performance with artist interviews. My MA in Digital Media directly shaped this methodology.
You recently released a single, Jesu, and have a new EP coming soon. How would you describe your personal sound, and what stories do you want to tell through it?
Jesu and the upcoming EP live at the intersection of Yoruba gospel traditions and British electronica. It’s worship music for the Afrofuturism age – sonically global but spiritually rooted.
You studied Digital Media & Communication for your Master’s at Teesside University. How has that helped shape your creative direction and production quality?
Teesside University equipped me to transform raw talent into premium content. Where I once just performed, I now engineer full productions – a skillset critical for today’s artist-entrepreneurs
Through Soundwise and your mentorship work, you’re giving upcoming artists a platform. Why is that important to you and what do you hope they take away from it?
Visibility is survival for emerging artists. I want featured talents to leave with: 1) Broadcast-quality assets for their portfolios, 2) Cross-cultural networks, and 3) The audacity to claim space
With over 1 million streams, BBC recognition, and a growing YouTube audience what does success look like to you at this stage of your journey?
Beyond metrics, success is the ‘Soundwise ripple effect’ – when artists we platformed get signed (like Loren to EMI) or when BBC Introducing features become stepping stones for their careers
What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened since you launched Soundwise Session?
The spontaneous collaborations. Artists meeting through our sessions now create together offline. Recently, a Nigerian talking drummer featured in 2022 just recorded with a Sunderland electronic producer they met in our comments section
Looking ahead, what are your short and long term dreams for the platform? Will we be seeing a live showcase soon?
Short-term: Monthly live showcases at UK arts councils. Long-term: A touring festival version. The dream? A Soundwise Academy offering free digital production training to grassroots African artists globally
Finally, what would you say to young Nigerians or African creatives looking to move abroad and still stay true to their culture and art?
Your cultural specificity is your competitive edge. The UK scene doesn’t need you to dilute your sound – it needs the authentic fusion only you can create. Build like you’re planting a seed, not chasing trends.
Closing Note
From Lagos to Middlesbrough, Soundwise is demonstrating how creativity and community can travel anywhere. With Soundwise Session, Hakeem Oladimeji Popoola is building a performance platform, creating a space where new artists are seen and supported while also being a worthy Nigerian ambassador in a foreign land.
His mission is clear: no voice should be left out. And he’s just getting started.
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