Halima

Halima sees making music as a spiritual practice, a space to confront her inner self, learn, and let go. Raised between Lagos and London, now based in Brooklyn, Halima draws from a tri-continental story that started as a student exploring the worlds of folk, jazz, and theatre and ever expands in the present. She marks her label debut with EXU, her first EP on the burgeoning Secretly affiliate drink sum wtr. Finding new pathways through the music of her youth — British soul, UK Garage, R&B, and beyond — Halima anchors the project in the infinite nature of self-discovery, uncertainty, and renewal: "Both artistically and culturally, it represents all the places that informed my spirit."

The title and concept come from Halima's Nigerian heritage. Exu (Eshu) is the Yoruba deity of 'crossroads,' the great mediator between the forces of life and the messenger between humans and gods. "They are known for being the God of change, chaos, and unpredictability, so they are often misunderstood," Halima explains. "But they are present in our lives to bring us to better versions of ourselves. This project is about facing Exu and resisting it. Then succumbing and realizing Exu is within you."

EXU's five tracks offer a glimpse into the universe and point of view of an artist discovering their intrinsic powers and embracing change, simultaneously at peace and in constant evolution.