Seinabo Sey

Swedish-Gambian singer and composer Seinabo Sey holds gold and platinum certifications across her native Sweden, where her sound fuses American-rooted, soul-infused R&B with electro-pop textures. Her slightly grainy contralto moves fluidly into a capable falsetto while anchoring a resonant lower range; the voice projects with power and outward energy even as her words frequently map inner psychological and emotional landscapes of vulnerability. Themes of personal empowerment recur throughout most of her original material. The catchy, confident single “Younger” entered charts in nine territories, among them the United States, earning multi-platinum status in three of those markets, while her widely praised first full-length release, Pretend, peaked at number four in Sweden and number 14 in Norway and likewise received multi-platinum recognition. Sey returned to the upper reaches of the Swedish charts with 2018’s I’m a Dream and later issued tracks such as “Shores,” “Black Star,” and “Suzuki.”

Born in Stockholm in 1990, she first encountered music through her father, acclaimed West African musician Maudo Sey. After the family relocated to Halmstad, Sey attended the renowned Östergårdsskolans institution and pursued music studies there. Though initially drawn toward a more conventional academic path, she returned to Stockholm at age 16 and enrolled in music courses at the Fryshusets Center. Exposure to artists including Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys helped shape a self-assured stage presence during her time at Fryshusets. Following graduation, she joined forces with various performers, sharing stages and recordings with Oskar Linnros, Linda Pira, and Stor, among others. The loss of her father in 2013 left an indelible mark on her work; she issued the Magnus Lidehäll-produced single “Younger,” which quickly captured public interest and reached broader audiences through a 2014 Kygo remix. That same year she unveiled her debut EP, For Madeleine, named for her mother, which reached number 15 on the Heatseekers chart. Subsequent high-profile appearances included performances at the Swedish Grammy Awards and the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. A follow-up EP, For Maudo, honoring her father, appeared in 2015.

Those two EPs cleared the path for her 2015 debut album, Pretend. Working again with producer Lidehäll, the record incorporated earlier singles such as “Younger,” “Hard Time,” and “Pretend,” propelling it to number four in Sweden and earning her the Swedish Grammy for Best Newcomer. Much of 2017 was spent touring Europe, though she still found time to release a Charming Horses remix of “Still.”

In 2018, Sey and Lidehäll resumed intensive studio work, generating singles that ranged from the double A-side “I Owe You Nothing” / “Remember” featuring Jacob Banks to “Breathe” and a digital package containing versions of both “Breathe” and “For You.” After contributing to Banks’ track “Be Good to Me,” she delivered her second studio album, I’m a Dream, which reached number six in Sweden. Additional standalone singles followed, among them 2019’s “Shores” with Vargas & Lagola, 2021’s “Sweet Life” with Waterbaby, 2022’s “Black Star,” and 2023’s “Suzuki.”