[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: BOII
Sierra Leone’s afro-pop riser BOII is rapidly carving her own lane as one of the most captivating voices emerging across the culture, we got to know her a little deeper via this VIPER interview.
What five words define your sound?
Sugar, spice and everything nice!
Tell me something unique about your creative process
Most of my songs don’t necessarily reflect my perspective and personality but those are things I see and watch like movies or even other people in my life. I feel they are more relatable you know.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
‘Carry Another’. It’s a fun jam I’d love people to resonate with.
What inspired you to make your latest single ‘Credit Alert’?
Turning 18, at that age I somewhat got a sought of freedom to go where I wanted and do what I wanted. So having money and going out with friends and having fun the whole night was just on my bucket list so I brought it to life in the song.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
Traveling to record ‘Credit Alert’ when my mum was being very skeptical and difficult about me taking this career path.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
My best experience I would say is every time the whole crowd would sing my song word for word. It’s just a feeling I’ll never get used to. For worst, it’s has to be miscommunication with the DJ and having to perform a song I wasn’t mentally prepare to. I killed it none the less but still…
What is your favourite song to perform?
I’d say ‘Credit Alert’.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
Every Rihanna album since 2008. Especially ‘Loud’.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
BOII is like a quarter of my actual name Boiimanya which in my native language means first female child. So BOII kinda means first.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
I’d be a song writer or an entertainment lawyer. They are both far stretched careers but I’d still want to be in the music scene.
What’s success to you?
Meeting every single expectation six year old me had of me. It might not sound like much but she was one hell of a dreamer.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Funnily enough I always knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be so I never really changed directions. It’s been music since the start of time.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
On Instagram @boiimanya
On Twitter @itsboii
On TikTok @boii____
On threads @boiimanya
