At an open mic in Toronto one fall evening, she strums an acoustic guitar while singing an original, “Need Me.” She then covers the 90s fave “Ex-Factor” and makes Lauryn Hill’s brutally honest lyrics hit like a gentle breeze. “Music is just poetry and a melody put together and given out to the world,” Khadijaa tells RANGE after her set.

Khadijaa is inspired by Hill’s vulnerability, and most of her biggest inspirations were releasing music before she was even born. Her father introduced her to calypso from his native Antigua. She cites Miriam Makeba as another influence, which makes sense, seeing as she shares a name with her widely acclaimed song “Malaika.”

“Nyota,” the lead single from 18, gets its name from the Swahili word for star. The accompanying video features the artist wrapped in warm shades of silk, offering the viewer a hand to hold. She navigates a dark period in life surrounded by the brilliant guidance of family and friends. Khadijaa introduces us to her perfect blends of acoustic alt-rock with R&B sensibilities, showing her roots through angelic vocal harmonies. 

The EP catches us up on her life thus far. “Need Me” begins on her eighteenth birthday, when a friend didn’t come through like she thought they would. Her lyrics examine changing relationships and her small town upbringing in Whitby, ON, a suburb east of Toronto. Her song “Let Go” signifies turning over a new chapter and outgrowing a confining life. “You find comfort in doing the same old thing, sadly we’re not 15 anymore,” she sings. “I’ve got to see what it’s like on the other side, and try things I don’t like.”