Lindsey Abudei


Lindsey Chukwufumnanya Abudei, known professionally as Lindsey Abudei, is a Nigerian neo-soul singer and songwriter. She started recording and having jam sessions with M.I Abaga and Jesse Jagz while still an undergraduate law student in 2014. Abudei has released two solo projects; Brown: The EP and ...And the Bass Is Queen.

Early life and education

A native of the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State, Nigeria, Abudei was born and raised in Jos. She attained a law degree from the University of Jos but decided to pursue a career in music after graduating. Abudei was born to parents who were involved in music during their early years. She chose to make neo-soul and R&B music after listening to artists such as Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Sade, Prince, Nat King Cole, R.E.M. Skeeter Davis, Andy Williams, The Beach Boys and Omar Lye-Fook.

Career

2004–10: Early beginnings and ''Project Fame West Africa''

In 2004, Abudei started recording music with MI, Jesse Jagz and Ruby Gyang while still an undergraduate student at the University of Jos. In 2010, she auditioned for the third season of Project Fame West Africa. Although she exited the platform as an early evictee, she managed to attract a devoted fanbase. Abudei had a brief stint with The Jazzcats, a jazz band. She lent vocals to M.I's "Jehovah", a track from his debut studio album Talk About It. She also lent vocals to DJinee's "Thank You" and Jesse Jagz's "This Jagged Life".

2011–13: ''Brown EP''

On 24 February 2013, Abudei released her 8-track EP Brown independently. Stylized as Brown: The EP, the EP contains three bonus tracks and was produced by Atta Lenell, Jesse Jagz and IBK. Brown was supported by the previously singles "Drift Away","The 90s Song" and "Out the Magazine". It also contains cover versions of Aṣa's "Jailer" and Fela Kuti's "Trouble Sleep, Yanga Go Wake Am".

2014–present: ''...And The Bass Is Queen.''

Abudei started recording her debut studio album ...And the Bass Is Queen in 2014. She shot the music video for "Out the Magazine" with Kemi Adetiba in 2015. On 25 June 2016, she unveiled the album's artwork on Twitter and announced that it would comprise 12 tracks. In 2017, Abudei got into a music residency in New York and became an Art OMI Music Fellow.
Abudei recorded "Abụ Ya", an acoustic solo that appeared on Brymo's seventh studio album Yellow. Prior to recording "Abụ Ya", she released two singles in four years. On April 3, 2020, Abudei released "One on the Outside", an alternative ballad from her upcoming extended play Kaleidoscope.

Artistry and influences

Abudei's music is a mixture of neo soul and alternative music. Her sound has been described as everything from "songbird to songstress, sultry to sonorous, emotion evoking to even effortlessly earth-moving". She cites Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Sade, Eva Cassidy, Roberta Flack as some of her key musical influences.

Discography