Introducing Dolapo…RnB’s Rising Star
Dolapo is an emerging RnB powerhouse that needs to be heard. The songstress first got her start in music co-writing tracks with rising artists like MoStack, Tion Wayne and more. As time progressed she developed her signature sound and artistry. After debuting on BBC R1Xtra playlist, the singer-songwriter has gone on to earn 2 million streams for her record ‘Something New’ and secured a sold-out venue for her first headlined show. With her latest single ‘It’s Alright’ making the rounds and plans to release more new music later this year, Dolapo is proving to be a star in the making.
We were able to chat with the songstress about everything from her music journey, her video for her single ‘It’s Alright’ and more…
Bringing it back a bit, do you remember the first R&B song that you listened to?
Yes! TLC – ‘Unpretty’. I think I was too young to understand the video properly and the weight it carried but I remember being so intrigued by it
Which artists stuck out to you the most during your childhood?
1: Aaliyah – I loved how smooth her voice was, I could listen to her albums on repeat. Plus her style was everything
2: Jlo – she used to have some of the most pleasing videos to watch, ‘If you had my love’ & ‘all I have’
3: Ashanti – a songwriting QUEEN!
When did you have your music “ah-ha” moment that inspired you to pursue your own career in the industry?
I think after I felt like I tried every other option. I tried just writing, I tried groups, I tried even running from music lol. But opportunities I guess I would’ve once dreamt of kept coming my way, I just had to go for it
Okay let’s talk about your banging single ‘It’s Alright’. How did the track come to fruition?
I had a session with Nosa Apollo and to be fair, sessions with him are always a vibe. I tend to like letting the producer find his vibe first and then I bring my own thing to it. The song went through a few stages, it was quite slow at first but still trappy. We brought in Alan Sampson and we just kept working on the song till we were all satisfied.
Your video for the single is EVERYTHING! It’s giving such an early 2000’s vibe! Was this intentional? Can you take us through the creative process of the visual?
Thank you! Wheww it wasn’t easy at all! It was a home shoot so everything had to be done remotely, the styling, the directing everything!! It was definitely intentional, the 2000s is my whole aesthetic and a major one of my influences
When it comes to creating new music, what type of themes or moods do you favour exploring?
It used to be about a lot of heartache and stuff but now I’m in a totally different space, so I guess expect a lot more feel-good vibes/ dance it off vibes.
What are your top 5 goals you want to achieve as an artist?
1: Definitely my first album
2: A world tour
3: My own record label to develop artists as well as launching other businesses
4: Change the reception of R&B in the UK and put it on a global stage. Similar to how we receive r&b from the states here
5: Buy a big family home for my mum & dad. They deserve everything
What can fans expect from you in the coming months?
Hella bops!!!
Make sure to watch Dolapo’s fantastic video for her single ‘It’s Alright’ below.
