Drawing from an expansive palette of R&B, neo soul, contemporary jazz, and poetic songwriting, British-Nigerian award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Ego Ella May is creating music that resonates deeply across generations and cultures. Her work is united by her profound reverence for jazz; for Ego, it’s the “root of it all,” and a fearless commitment to emotional truth. Her genre-defying sound has cemented her as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music.
Guided by literature, introspection, and candid conversations with her inner circle, Ego crafts writing that turns vulnerability into connection. She draws inspiration from artists who lay their truth bare, the likes of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Solange, channelling their honesty and emotional depth into her own sonic world. At the same time, jazz greats Sarah Vaughan and Hendricks & Ross anchor her enduring love for the genre, shaping the foundation on which her sound continues to grow.
Ego’s creative lens is equally shaped by the writers she loves: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Patti Smith, Chinua Achebe, Ayobami Adebayo, and Joan Didion, whose storytelling sharpens her sense of narrative and introspective detail. Through Ego’s musical and literary influences, she crafts songs that delve into self-reflection, healing, identity, social consciousness, love, and the complexities of modern life. Her voice, soft yet commanding, carries an intimacy that resonates with longtime music lovers and new listeners alike.
Her critically acclaimed debut album, Honey For Wounds, earned her widespread recognition, including Best Jazz Act at the 2020 MOBO Awards and Best Vocalist at the 2021 Jazz FM Awards, alongside placements across major film and television, including Insecure, Sex Education, Dear White People, Queen Sugar, The Jackal, and And Just Like That. Across collaborations with Ari Lennox, Theo Croker, Kojey Radical, and more, and through her celebrated FIELDNOTES EP series (with FIELDNOTES PT II receiving a 5-star review from The Telegraph), Ego has continued to explore new sonic possibilities while maintaining the emotional depth that defines her artistry.
In 2026, Ego ushers in a new chapter with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, Good Intentions, arriving 20th March 2026. It’s her most daring and ambitious work to date, blending warm jazz textures, alt-soul explorations, intricate harmonies, and lyrical storytelling. Lead singles “What We Do” and “We’re Not Free” offer a glimpse into the album’s thematic richness, examining community, liberation, vulnerability, and the complicated beauty of everyday human experience. Ego Ella May’s gift lies not only in her musicianship but also in her ability to create music that feels timeless, music that speaks to the tender, thoughtful, and questioning parts of listeners across all ages. Expanding her artistic universe once again with Good Intentions, she continues her ascent as one of the most innovative and emotionally resonant artists of her generation.