Gaidaa (Season 3 Premiere)

Photo by Sebastian Boon (aka Segraphy)

This first episode of season 3 exemplifies so much of what this series is all about. Gaidaa is a Sudanese-Dutch singer/songwriter who’s independently releasing music that reminds me of the emotional depths that can only be explored with R&B. You remember that time during the pandemic where we didn’t listen to music but played back the same 3 to 5 projects? Gaidaa’s Overture project was one of those bodies of music for me; a stunning collection of songs that offered me solace from the world outside. 

What makes Gaidaa’s writing stand out is how she’s able to be both deeply personal and welcoming within her music. She’s someone who’s confident in her skills but unsure about the world, and her music beautifully conveys “hey, that’s ok.” That it’s ok not to know what the hell is going on in your life and after the 2020 (and now 2021) we just had…I think that’s something we can all relate to.

That raw honesty shines throughout our entire chat, along with Gaidaa’s natural comedic timing, her journey towards embracing cultural identity, and in a lot of ways; this is one of those talks that will remind whatever you’re passionate about in life is so important.

After you hear the episode, be sure to check out Gaidaa’s track Morning Blue on the official New Exchange Playlist. Also, follow Gaidaa on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.