The dictionary defines the word “florilegium” as “a collection of literary extracts; an anthology.” 

Thus, it is fitting that this is the word that singer-songwriter Uwade chose as the title of her debut album, which comes out on April 25. 

Florilegium is a collection of songs that are rooted in its creator’s personal history, touching on themes that range from grief, the ending of relationships, the personal reconciliation from the fallout of failing. They’re independent, yet cohesive. A collection of stories. 

“I started singing when I was very young,” Uwade explains in an interview with Culture Cabinet about her beginnings as an artist. “At one point, I said I wanted to be a singer when I grew up. I was just trying to figure out what to do. I kept singing in choirs and singing at church and singing in school wherever I could. Then in middle school, I started posting covers of songs. I would record little Garage Band covers and share them on my school’s group chat platform so everyone could see them. It was a lot of fun.”

This blooming passion for music eventually followed her to college, where she joined an acapella group. And, after seeing a close friend release an EP of her own, Uwade felt inspired to release one for herself. “I was just so amazed that someone could do that,” she says. “I knew it was possible, but I’d never seen it up close.” 

From there, Uwade began to write her own music, and started collaborating with bands like Fleet Foxes. After releasing a number of singles, she’s now poised to be releasing her debut album. 

The album was a bit of a long time coming. Recorded in both New York and North Carolina (her home state), the recording process took place over a year and a half. And while the process was strenuous, it was ultimately rewarding.

“I don’t want to say it was a happy accident, because there was work and planning that went into it,” she says of the album’s creation. “At every stage, I wasn’t exactly sure how everything was going to come together until it did. I had only recently started writing songs. But, I would write songs, make a little demo, send them to my manager, and just sort of experiment. The first set of recordings I did were in New York, and I was planning on maybe just doing an EP, but it didn’t feel like everything was finished or actualized to the level that I wanted it. So, there was a long pause. I went back home and didn’t have much access to studios.” 

But, after booking a recording session at Betty’s, the Chapel Hill-based recording studio owned by indie duo Sylvan Esso, Uwade was able to re-focus, and started to shape her thoughts on what the album should ultimately be. 

“It was just sort of like, ‘Okay, it’s coming together, and I think I want to put it all together, I don’t want to do an EP. This feels like a full length. This feels like it’s ready.’ It was sort of a puzzle of figuring out what would be recorded, where it would be recorded, and how we would finish everything.” 

What ultimately resulted from the journey is a knock out of a debut album, that has the focus and creative skill of a seasoned artist. It is thematically reminiscent of some of Uwade’s influences, which she cites as everything from indie rock artists like Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, to tones and themes of R&B and West African music. “I feel like R&B is probably more self conscious,” she adds, “I grew up listening to a lot of it, and when I was in college, I discovered the rock world.” And all the while, the calm, almost meditative vibe of Florilegium is only underscored by the vulnerability and deepness of the lyrics. 

It seems only certain that with a debut as strong as Florilegium, Uwade will launch into an upward trajectory. On top of the album’s release, she is also going coast to coast on tour, launching the tour on April 24 at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, NY. It’s safe to say that Uwade will be one to watch. But, for now, she’s happy with just taking in the present. 

“I strive for peace in my music, even when it’s very engaged and intense. Sometimes I think ultimately, there’s this sort of quiet reflection that I want people to take away from my music. Even a song that’s super danceable and exciting, whether it’s in the lyrics or instrumentation, I always like to leave people thinking about something they haven’t before.” 

You can stream Uwade below.