Celebrity Travel: Go away with Uwade

For musician Uwade, traveling around Norway with her two best friends was a bucket-list trip come true. “We got to see the Northern Lights, go snowmobiling and meet some very cute reindeer,” said the 25-year-old Palo Alto-based singer. “It was the middle of winter, so there was snow everywhere and basically no sunlight. It was wild and disorienting, but so beautiful.” Of her debut album “Florilegium” (https://uwade.merchtable.com/?), the artist said she worked on the music for years. “I knew I wanted to put out a larger body of work, but I wasn’t sure what the format should be or what story I wanted to tell,” said Uwade, 25, from her Palo Alto, California, home. “Generally, I think I work best at home or in a hotel. [But] I did get quite a bit of inspiration on the road.” For more information about her tour and travels, stay in touch with Uwade on social media, where her username is @uwade.music.

Q: You were born in Nigeria and raised in North Carolina. What are your memories of Nigeria?

A: I was only two years old when I moved to the United States. My earliest memories involve being surrounded by family in Nigeria – cousins and grandparents – whereas in North Carolina, my life was much more isolated. Before we moved, I was already starting school and learning to read. But I had to wait several years before going to school here. This is certainly a generalization, but in my experience, Nigeria can be more community-oriented than America. On the whole, when I am there I have this deep sense that I am less an individual and more a member of a network of shared understanding and negotiated belonging.

Q: I've interviewed several other musicians who were born or raised in Nigeria and what they're told me is that Nigerians have a musical sensibility with a very distinct sound.

A: Hmm, that’s fascinating! I definitely think most Nigerians are very musical, because music is ever present and fundamental. For a lot of people, music has communal and particularly religious associations. I do think certain genres that have come out of Nigeria have rhythms that are easily identifiable to me as Nigerian. I’m really inspired by percussive elements of Nigerian music that encourage people to participate and move their bodies. I try to incorporate them when and where I can.

Q: Have you returned to Nigeria?

A: I’ve returned several times! When I was younger, I would go back every few years. In recent years, I’ve been lucky enough to return more often. I was back there this summer and invited a dear friend from college to join me for a week. We had so much fun trying cool cafes and restaurants around Lagos. It’s such a wonderful and vibrant city.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?

A: I went to Savannah, Georgia, for a Girl Scout trip in elementary school. I remember loving the architecture and the general sense of history around me. We also went on a ghost tour that was absolutely terrifying. I left thinking the entire city was haunted. Maybe it is. I don’t want to find out.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: I’ll be in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom this summer for some shows and festivals. In the meantime, most of my travel will be for my upcoming headline tour. This April and May, you can find me in Brooklyn, Seattle, Chicago or Los Angeles.

Q: Have you heard music performed somewhere where you felt inspired to incorporate that sound into your music?

A: Absolutely! Whenever I’m in a different place, I immediately want to write music like what I hear in the place. In Nigeria, I want to write Afrobeats. After hearing a church service in France, I feel like creating melancholic choral arrangements. In the southern United States, I’m inspired to write country or folk or R&B. Everywhere I go, I feel inspired by the people around me.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: I really love the English countryside. I know people love to diss the weather in England, but I find it really soothing, sobering and emotionally productive. The nature is gorgeous, the villages are so charming and the general mood inspires reflectivity that I find so beautiful and refreshing. It’s like the air is different. Full of beautiful melancholy.

Q: How do you separate work from vacation trips?

A: Oof, I don’t think I do. The grind never stops. Most travel in my life has either been tied to my academic career or musical one, so business and pleasure have to exist simultaneously. One day I’ll go on vacation and just do nothing. What a beautiful day that will be.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: Last year I was on tour and spent some time in Bentonville, Arkansas. It was definitely a hidden gem. There are some wonderful museums there, really lovely restaurants and beautiful nature. I’m a fan!

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: I’ve taken trips to the mountains and beaches of North Carolina, as well as some lakes in Virginia. Pretty much every portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is unbelievably scenic and North Carolina beaches are gorgeous. It’s always nice to be surprised by the beauty that’s closer than you’d expect.

Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A: This past winter, I spent a few days before Christmas in Munich and Salzburg. The cities were full of festivity and cheer. They really know how to put on Christmas markets over there. So much great food and cozy drinks and gorgeous lights. They can warm even the most miserly hearts.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Paris, London, Edinburgh, Copenhagen and Minneapolis.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: I would love to go to Thailand, or New Zealand, or Senegal, or South Africa, or Kenya, or Brazil. The list could go on.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)