[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: WINNY
Gaining a co-sign from Omah Lay in under 18 months of her debut, the Benue State trailblazer’s sound blends Reggae, R&B/Soul and Afro music into one seamless listen. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Different, soulful, experimental, rhythmic, emotional.
Tell me something unique about your creative process?
My creative process is fluid; sometimes a song starts with a melody in my head, other times with lyrics, I also like to blend elements, finding balance between traditional sounds and modern production.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
I’d recommend starting with ‘Pretty’. It captures a lot of who I am as an artist – a fusion of heartfelt lyrics and rhythmic energy.
What inspired you to make that song?
That song was born out of a time of deep reflection. I wanted to explore themes of identity, belonging and personal experiences.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
One of my most vulnerable moments was writing ‘Pretty’. It’s a deeply personal track where I let myself dive into raw emotions without worrying about how it would be received.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
The best experience was performing in front of a crowd that truly connected with my music. There’s no better feeling than seeing people vibe to your sound. The worst? Probably when a technical issue cut out my mic during a key moment. But we recovered and the crowd’s energy helped carry the performance through.
What is your favourite song to perform?
My favourite songs to perform are ‘Ghetto Feels’ and ‘Don’t Leave’. It has this undeniable energy that always lights up the room.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
For me, it wasn’t just one artist, a song, or album that sparked my desire to make music, it was the people around me. People inspired me to make music. Watching how music brings people together, how it lifts spirits, tells stories, and gives a voice to emotions we sometimes can’t express, really moved me.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
My name is originally Winifred, which means ‘friend of peace,’ and Winny is for short.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
If I weren’t making music, I’d likely be creating in another way; painting, fashion designing or something where I could still express myself creatively.
What’s success to you?
Success to me is being able to make music that resonates with people, while staying true to my artistic vision
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
There was a point when I realised I needed to shift from making music for others’ expectations, to creating from a place of authenticity and it made my art more genuine.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
People can connect with me on all the social media @Winnyadanu and or listen to my music on all the streaming platforms. I love hearing from fans and sharing my journey with them.
