Uwade Announces Debut Album Florilegium and New Single „Call It A Draw”

Nigerian-born, North Carolina-raised artist Uwade is ready to step into the spotlight with the announcement of her debut album, Florilegium, set for release on April 25th via Thirty Tigers. The record, steeped in her signature blend of choral harmonies, Nigerian Highlife, and contemporary indie-folk, is a reflection of both her musical heritage and academic background in Classics, which she studied at Columbia and Oxford University. Preceding the album is the single „Call It A Draw,” an intoxicating exploration of restlessness and creative freedom. 

‘Call It A Draw’ started with a drum loop, a chord progression, and a feeling of restlessness. The creation process was pure, playful, and visceral, relying less on structure and more on improvisation. This approach was really freeing and reflects the sense of release that I feel is central to the project as a whole.

Though she’s been quietly making waves for years, Uwade’s ethereal voice first caught the world’s attention as the opening refrain on Fleet Foxes’ Grammy-nominated album, Shore. Since then, she’s toured extensively with the band and shared stages with Jamila Woods, Sylvan Esso, The Strokes, and more. Her solo work has unfolded gradually—through luminous singles like “Do You See the Light Around Me?” and the contemplative “The Man Who Sees Tomorrow”—but now, with Florilegium, she delivers a full-length statement of intent.

The album came together over three distinct recording sessions spanning a year and a half. It began in upstate New York in 2022 with producer Sam Cohen, following a stretch of intensive touring. In early 2024, Uwade took up a week-long residency at Jon Seale’s New York City studio to further develop her ideas before returning to North Carolina to complete the album with Alli Rogers at Betty’s, Sylvan Esso’s sun-soaked Chapel Hill studio. The result is a carefully curated collection of songs that fully realize her vision.

The title, Florilegium, is derived from the Latin word meaning “flower-gathering.” Uwade describes it as a dedication to those who have shaped her journey:

I offer these songs as flowers of gratitude to those who have seen me through my life. I share them with the world as a reminder to cherish opportunities for renewal.