uNder: Best New Artists (May, 2026)

Music is officially back, even if the underground never went to sleep. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been treated to several standout moments and performances by acts still figuring out their path as creators and voices of their generation. As always, the underground is where the most cogent experimentation and hybridising is being done. It’s why we started this column years ago: we want to always be at the centre of what makes culture pop, and it’s a goal we’ve managed for a while yet and intend to keep doing. 

May 2026 has not been an exception in terms of the depth and breadth of talent that we’re aiming to spotlight. Almost Joey is taking a calculated approach to music-making that’s steadily building an interesting catalogue while Liberian singer, Danté,  is delicately blending Hip-Hop with R&B grooves. Equally resonant, Nigerian songbird, Sewa, putting her unique imprint on Soul and Jazz as is Ghanaian-Norwegian star, Akuvi. Together, this pool of stars reminds us of why we keep pressing play on records: we want to be elevated and seen, and, in some inexplicable way, these acts want the same for us. Read on and find out why you should be paying attention to them. 

Almost Joey

For Fans of:  Crayon, Johnny Drille, and Tekno. 

Almost Joey is just at the start of his career but he already knows where he’s headed, deliberately building out a catalogue that might be byte-sized at the moment but packs a punch while introducing listeners to the essence of his eclectic take on Afropop. Born and raised in Lagos, Almost Joey’s interest in music was spurred by a love for Hip-Hop that evolved as he grew older and encountered the work of Guyanese-American singer and songwriter, SAINt JHN. After a series of covers on social media, he released his debut single, “If I Dey Lie (Carry Me),” in June 2023 to frenzied reaction digitally. 

Over a year later, he returned with a new version of “If I Dey Lie (Carry Me)” carrying a verse from Crayon that deftly  merged their colourful approach to songwriting and further stamped Joey as a talent to watch out for. Sticking to the drip-feeding approach that he has used since the beginning of his career, he released just one song in 2025, dropping the maximal Afropop banger, “Your Waist,” in January 2025. As always, he was pledging his loyalty to a love interest and assuring her of his dedication. His cherry to songwriting also bears shades of Tekno at his most evocative. Returning in April 2026, Almost Joey released “My Baby (Obimo),” another heart-tugger that bears all the hallmarks of his emotive songwriting style without sacrificing the verve that makes him a dynamic listen. Since its release, “My Baby (Obimo)” has received a DJ Kraizee remix that adds House elements to the song, further expanding its reach and Almost Joey’s profile.  – W.O.

Danté

For fans of: Tay Iwar, Lucky Daye & Odeal

If you’re unfamiliar with Danté’s music, perhaps the best place to start is “Big Sp7nder,” a highlight from his debut project ‘Paradiso.’  The song’s recently released music video, which looks like something straight out of the MTV era, offers a vivid glimpse into the model-turned-singer’s defined style, which blends nostalgic aesthetic choices with a serene sonic edge. It’s the kind of lush R&B music you would want to put on when you are cruising through the city at night or with a glass of champagne or prosecco in hand, feeling on top of the world.

It’s quite impressive how the singer, who hails from Liberia, has been able to cultivate a distinct sound with only a few credits to his name. Before the release of his official debut single, “Ricki Lake,” from earlier in the year, he had only ever been officially featured on one song: “DOING TOO MUCH,” a lustrous cut from Brooklyn-based singer and producer DEY G’S 2025 tape ‘SUM SAWNGZ.’ He delivered an impressive showing on the noughties R&B and Hip-Hop inspired cut, and it’s that same nostalgic flair that he brings to his own music. 

The singer first announced his debut project earlier in February, and it was accompanied by two singles, “Ricki Lake” and “We Up,” both of which served as a clear indication of what direction his music would take. The full project arrived a few weeks later, and thanks to the guidance from Odunsi The Engine, who served as an executive producer for ‘Paradiso,’ Danté was able to successfully channel his nostalgic R&B and Hip-Hop influences into a project that feels both fresh and timeless. 

Following the release of ‘Paradiso,’ Danté has promised new music, looking to build on an impressive debut showing that has already garnered attention within the alternative music scene. By expanding his creative reach and continuing to lean into his unique West African heritage while maintaining global appeal, he aims to further solidify his position as a rising force in the industry. – B.A.

Akuvi

For Fans of:  Tems, Shekhinah, and Mellissa.

Akuvi Kumoji does not conform to liminal ideas or expectations of her music. The singer blurs genre boundaries with a  koan-like introspection that signals to a lifetime’s worth of earned experiences. Boasting Ghanaian and Norwegian heritage,  the singer’s introduction to music courtesy of her father, but Akuvi didn’t feel the conviction to take her music seriously until she recorded “OBLIGATIONS,” while living in South Africa in 2019. Since then, the singer has been as prolific as she has been experimental, fusing Soul, Pop, and Alternative Folk into her distinct interpretation of Afropop that has seen her plant her foot firmly in Ghana and Norway. 

Following the release of “OBLIGATIONS” in 2029, she released an eight-song tape titled ‘Unfinished Business’ that saw her explore her Soul leanings on tracks like “Free Me from Me” which had an Afrobeats version tacked on to the tape as well as other songs like “Everybody Else” and “Obligations.” Moving on from ‘Unfinished Business,’ Akuvi released singles like “Confusion,” “In My Feelings,” and “Triumph” documenting her process in real time as she fine-tuned her sound and stripped the elements that didn’t quite serve her. A glimpse of that refined sound was on display when she put out “The Other Side” in November 2023 as the lodestar for an EP to be titled ‘Sorry I’m Late.’

Arriving in January 2024,  ‘Sorry I’m Late’ saw Akuvi lean definitively into Afropop, meshing the rhythmicity of highlife with the bounce of Amapiano while dissecting faith, belief, and her ambition. Tracks like “Dem Never Gonna Know” and “Agoo” displayed an intuitive comfort with Afropop that has only deepened since that time. 2025 was another year for soul-searching for the singer who released Soul-inflected tracks like “Lover/Fighter,” “Let Me Know,” and “Lock Down.” The release of the Stonebwoy collab, “Dream Big,” in January 2026 hinted at a shift towards Afropop that was confirmed by the release of her cathartic project, ‘Afrobeats For Emotional Gangsters.’  Across the seven songs, Akuvi runs her innate feelings on being lovelorn and hurt through an Afropop framework that’s reflected on highlights like “Let Me Know” and “No Words.” Seven years into a career that has seen her continue to blur the lines between genres, Akuvi is in her elements as she works to expand the textural range of Afropop with Soul-influenced dispatches.  – W.O.

Sewa

For fans of: Sade Adu, Asa, and Teledalase. 

There is something about the way grief imprints itself unto a person’s core so much that it can redirect the course of their life. After spending her formative years in Nigeria being indifferent about music, a ghastly accident in 20216 that claimed her father’s life and nearly took hers nudged Sewa to seek healing in music, leading her to explore her pre-existing fascination with the guitar. 

The process of playing the instrument ignited a profound connection to music until it outgrew being a hobby and became a necessary part of her life. That passion became the foundation of a career she started developing in 2019 when she released “Wahala” with the brother duo, The Cavemen., for a soulful Highlife jam. The following year, “Faraway” arrived as another step in carving out the distinctive Afrosoul sound that now defines her blossoming career. 

After migrating to Toronto in 2021 to study audio engineering at Seneca college, she started finding practical ways to develop her sound in the middle of a largely Hip-Hop-dominated scene. During her first concert, she realized that her audience regardless of race, loved her infusion of Yoruba with Jazz and Soul. Sewa is often complimented for embodying a similar aura to the iconic Asa and in February 2025,  she opened Asa’s Toronto concert, affirming a career she had been diligently building.

In October 2025, she cemented her acclaim with her debut album, ‘Detox,’ a 13-track soothing mashup of all her influences including Soul, Jazz and Folk. Anchored by her unmistakable airy vocals, the album feels transcendental, as though moving between the physical and ethereal. The lead single and fan favourite, “Lagos Living,” is an ode to the chaotic romance tropes peculiar to the city and Sewa’s way of staying connected to its never-ending intrigue. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a staggering level of excellence and, for all that it’s worth, she is on the cusp of a pivotal career breakthrough.  – M.E.

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