Meet Yemi Bolatiwa, the singer combining soul and strings

There’s something raw about the music of Yemi Bolatiwa — the Manchester-based artist’s lived experiences seeps into the notes she sings, combining with her childhood influences to create something “smooth and powerful, rooted in ’90s and early 2000s R&B melodies”. You can hear Bolatiwa’s authenticity in ‘Stronger’, possibly her most honest track to date from The Love La EP — one that the artist “couldn’t have imagined putting out into the world” when she was younger. But Bolatiwa isn’t dwelling on the past. Fresh off a soul-searching backpacking trip through Brazil, Colombia and beyond — a journey that pulled her out of post-tour burnout and reminded her why she fell in love with music in the first place — she’s back with renewed energy and a nine-piece ensemble that transforms bedroom songs into spine-tingling orchestral renditions, which give you “the feels”. “Imagine writing a song in your room about your feelings one day, and then seeing it come to life with eight other people and classical strings,” Bolitwa says, ever humble and appreciative of her transition into one of The Blues Kitchen Manchester’s most lauded artists.

You were born in London. How did growing up in the capital influence your early approach to music?

Growing up in southeast London (Elephant and Castle) meant that I had a huge Black British influence and a very multi-cultural start to life. Music-wise, music like ’90s soul from UK acts like Sade, Omar and Soul II Soul were influential. R&B, hip-hop, garage and grime are the sounds I identify with from my southern upbringing, and evidently what you’ll find me singing when I’m doing my own music or paying homage to my influences!

What other early influences did you have?

My family brought me up listening to ’80s soul, like Gwen Guthrie and Chaka Khan, and ’90s soul slash R&B, such as Toni Braxton, Brandy, Mary J Blige and SWV. My mum and dad would listen to people like Lionel Richie, Tracy Chapman, as well as music of our heritage: Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi and Brenda Fassie. I am half Zimbabwean and Nigerian, so the polyrhythms of the motherland rang through my home life and childhood!

How did moving over to Manchester’s music scene change your experience of the industry?

Moving to Manchester meant that music was welcomed and introduced to me with open arms! The collaborative culture, warm spirit and support system that thrives in the city is the reason I sing now. Jam nights and open mics and DIY grassroots music is how I got into singing. I met and just continued to meet some lovely and dead sound people, who were just willing to open up their opportunities to me. I guess I had to bring something to the table, but I feel like London would have been a bit more of a rat race — more challenging. I moved here to study international marketing, and that’s what my degree is in… But here I am!

How would you describe your current sound? Who are your influences?

My sound is dynamic; the music is full of upbeat and down beat moments — such is life! It’s vocally led, bouncy, jagged soul, smooth and powerful, rooted in ’90s and early 2000s R&B melodies. My main influences are Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Lianne La Havas, Sade, Mary J Blige and Jill Scott to name a few. This is what I love about working at Blues Kitchen — the chance to sing my influences’ music.

If you had to name one of your songs that represents you best, what would it be and why?

‘Stronger’ (2023) from The Love La EP. It’s about growing up and complicated parental relationships, so it always feels raw to sing it, but it’s about how I became the way I am. It’s important to address the past, and it shows growth. I couldn’t have imagined putting a song so honest out into the world when I was younger.

You’re now part of a nine-piece ensemble? What’s it like being part of such a large group? What do you think that volume adds to your sound?

The nine-piece (including the string quartet led by Sophia Dignam) has been extremely special. When we headlined the Manchester Jazz Festival… Like, imagine writing a song in your room about your feelings one day, and then seeing it come to life with eight other people and classical strings. Big shout out to my band members: James Vezer, Bradley Ingham, Josh Savage. They give up their time and talents to create and collaborate my vision. (Thank you!) In terms of what it adds, it makes the emotions of the story really hit home! It tells the story in a way my voice can’t and that people who maybe don’t listen to lyrics can feel more. If you don’t connect to the words, the strings can give you the feels.

You went backpacking last year. Tell us about that experience and how you’re bringing that into your music.

It was the space and time I needed to reset and centre myself, address recent life events and write about them. I went to Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and San Francisco. It was a trip and a half and made me appreciate my life and gave me the inspiration to think about pushing forward with music again. I did come to a point of self-doubt and burn out at the end of 2023, putting a lot into a DIY tour and EP release — it’s hard to cut through these days, but the trip restored my faith in my talents and reminded me to slow down. Things will happen! And I’m grateful for anything that does.

You’ve worked with a whole host of artists, including supporting Ezra Collective. Has there been a standout project for you, and why?

Yeah, that was a mad gig with my old band, Pareidolia. [Ezra Collective] were just coming up but you knew they were going to be huge! We supported Submotion Orchestra, too — that will always be a special night. Another standout live project was working with The Untold Orchestra, which was life-affirming and epic. I also had a couple of releases with Antony Szmeirek that got some great radio play and are still some of my favourite collaborations, which people always mention to me. Big up, Antony! Shouts to Chimpo and Metrodome on our latest releases this summer, too; and the Danny Howard, Lauren Lo Sung and Josh Butler collabs for all the house heads out there.

You’ve also played a lot of festivals. What’s your funniest or most memorable moment from a festival?

Getting on a speeding buggy across Boomtown 2017 to make the stage time! It was quite the rush [laughs]. We made it just in time for a quick line check with ten mins to spare or something. Leave enough time to get to your stage at big festivals people, lesson learnt!

Tell us a little bit about your relationship with The Blues Kitchen. What projects or shows do you have coming up that you can tell us about?

I’ve been there since [the Manchester venue] opened in June 2021, debuting with the Sade show. Since then, I feel like I’ve pretty much lived there week in week out, grown as an artist and had some incredible shows. The staff look after us there! Blues Kitchen pulls a crowd who love the music that I grew up on and that I love to sing. The February 2025 drum and bass show with The Untold Orchestra was epic — it’s been booked again for Wednesday 8 October. Big up to the all the team there: front of house, bar, security, managers, the people who book us, Reyan Murthada, The Untold Orchestra, Ben Price and the family of talented musicians that make it!