Presenting the first offering from her newly-launched solo project, Rome via D.C.-raised, South London-based artist/vocalist, Naima Adams self-releases her debut single ‘Fragile’. An open introspection of loss and hope in the modern age, ‘Fragile’ is backed by a layered contemporary indie/R&B foundation, co-produced by pianist/composer, Lorenz Okello-Osengor (And Is Phi, Sofia Grant).

Originally written as a lament on the nature loss and climate destruction a distance away from her grandfather’s hometown in Sicily during summer of 2023’s wildfire ruins, and growing heartbreak for the enduring violence in occupied Palestine, Congo and Sudan, ‘Fragile’ follows Adams contemplative and faithless in those profiting from our collective grief, yet determined and energised by those discerning and disrupting, reminding us of care and compassion as architects of resistance – our fragility as a strength: as multidisciplinary artist/storyteller, Nadeem Din-Gabisi joyously and defiantly reflects in the song’s closing moments, “I definitely have hope for the future, I don’t think I would do anything if I didn’t have hope for the future”.

“There’s an urgency in the lyrics, pleading with the listeners to take care of the people around them and the environment they live in, to trust and hope in the power of the people to overturn the state of things”, Adams considers.

Featuring a five-part choir of close friends including Sofia Grant, Plumm, Eliza Oakes & Alley Lloyd (also bassist on ‘Fragile’) as well as personal voice notes from friends and her parents sharing their dreams and fears of our current predicament, there’s an intimacy to ‘Fragile’ that anchors the direct and purposeful subject matter. Okello-Osengor’s affecting keys and Leo Aram-Downs’ delicate guitar lines float softly below Adams’ warm tone and honest musings.

“Being able to include the voices of family members and close friends makes this experience even more special and personal – I was grappling with my own fears and anxieties with everything going on but hearing their voices speak truths gave me strength, I didn’t feel so alone. The song is about collective movement, and the voice of the many – it was important to me to include perspectives of people who I most admire and who speak of community and change so powerfully, as mentioned in the chorus: “May their voices move you to feel a little less fragile today”.

Reflecting ahead of her debut live festival appearance at this year’s Cross The Tracks in May 2024, Naima Adams’ path to ‘Fragile’ has been a long one in the making. An early member and organiser of the original South London collective, Steam Down, as well as previous backing vocalist for Sampa... The Great, Celeste, Nadeem Din-Gabisi and feature on Sampa’s influential album ‘The Return’ (‘Summer’, 2019), Adams’ self-rooting in London’s new music community began in 2016, having relocated to London from Rome (her home city of the last 13 years) to study at the London College of Music. Within that time and now, Adams co-founded SE London community project, Scrapbook Mixtape (Listen; ‘In My Head’, 2021) and featured on a handful of releases including Italian alternative soul artist/guitarist RBSN’s ‘Babanero’ (2024) and ‘Speak For Yourself’ (‘Summer Days’, 2022), Sofia Grant’s EP ‘Extinction’ (Jazz Re:Freshed, 2023) and at a slight pivot, became Naima Adams: The DJ, first taught by Touching Bass founders Errol & Alex Rita in 2021 and regularly playing at their seminal south London parties, sharing lineups with the likes of Mr Scruff and Leanne Wright. Stretching even further beyond her artist, Adams became both Touching Bass’s label/events coordinator and a creative producer for Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here Festival in 2021.

From early mentoring by artist/educator, Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne (Hejira, Dave Okumu) to performing alongside Nubya Garcia and Theon Cross in Colombia, a 2am set with The Comet Is Coming on Glastonbury’s Rabbit Hole stage as well as performing on its legendary Park Stage and appearing on Later With Jools Holland and The Annie Mac Show, Adams’ journey leads her to ‘Fragile’, at a time priming with creative renewal. Adams recently became a Roundhouse Resident Artist for 2023/24, an artist development programme awarded to outstanding emerging artists between the ages of 18-25 and her next single ‘Stay’, produced by South London producer/multi-instrumentalist, Melo-Zed (Yazmin Lacey, Ego Ella May) is set for release later this year.

"It’s been a real journey to get here but there’s so much more I want to express and develop musically. I hope that ‘Fragile’ reaches the people who need it, who resonate with the message and who will inevitably breathe new life into it. I want the sounds to connect with people around me, my friends, and my community, many of whom I’ve had conversations about vulnerability and collectivity, hope, faithlessness, and a better future. I’ve got some really exciting collaborations & live shows coming up and can’t wait to get started.”  more