WHETHER REPORT: Simi

Simisola Ogunleye's dream is to "leave an indelible mark on the face of the earth as a singer that sang great songs and made an impact. I hope that through my music, lives are changed for the better and people are given hope and inspiration to accomplish dreams and become better people."

The 21 year old started singing at age eight and wrote her first song when she was 10. Born into a family of four children, Simi enjoyed a lot of attention as the last child and only daughter. Growing up, she always spiced up family time with mock performances and musical treats in their living room as she fancied singing and dancing.

However, it wasn't until she became a teenager that she joined Outstanding, a performing and dancing group. Along with the group, Simisola got introduced to audiences as they performed at small gigs, schools and churches.

A graduate of Mass Communication from Covenant University, she broke away from Outstanding in 2008 when she got an offer from a record executive to help her realise her dreams of singing. She discloses that her strength is in her ability to write and sing songs "with a different flow and concept from the regular. I believe I have a voice that sets me apart and makes people want to listen to me over and over."

Now signed to Rebel Records - the same record that discovered her back in 2008 - as Simi, she has recorded two singles, ‘Ara Ile' and ‘Girl Like Me'. Driving the gospel and inspirational lane, her singing, she said, is influenced by Asa, Cobhams, Lauryn Hill, Natasha Bedingfield, Stacie Orrico, and T.Y Bello.

‘Ara Ile' is a typical praise jam with a hook that will likely paint a picture of a dancing choir in your mind. The change in beat tempo from verse to hook, which introduces a disco feel to the track, is also smartly done. ‘Girl Like Me', on the other hand, is a sermon delivered in R&B with elevating love lyrics dedicated to God. Simi's delivery is, however, to some extent, auto-tuned, thus questioning her vocal prowess.

Forecast: Bright