Turunesh
Turunesh is a visionary Neo-Afro soul singer whose East African roots and poetic voice are reshaping the alternative music scene. Born in Nairobi to a Tanzanian father and Ethiopian mother, and raised in Dar es Salaam, her rich cultural heritage deeply infuses her artistry, helping her stand out as one of Africa’s most promising young talents.
From a young age, Turunesh was surrounded by music and storytelling, finding inspiration in family poetry and her vibrant community. She began performing in childhood school recitals and soon turned to writing poetry as a way to bond with her parents, both poets themselves. At 15, she started singing covers and sharing her own songs online, blending her love for writing and music into a signature style that carries across her work today.
Turunesh’s sound defies easy categorization, her smooth, soulful vocals glide over experimental soundscapes accentuated by the hypnotic rhythms of Unyago and Taarab, alongside modern R&B influences. Drawing on icons like Fela Kuti, Elliott Smith, and Salif Keita, she crafts music that celebrates East African femininity, poetic storytelling, and visual imagination.
Choosing authenticity and independence, Turunesh founded her own creative organization, Nesh Empire, carving a unique space for herself in East Africa’s alternative music landscape. Her sophomore album “Satin Cassette,” with standout tracks like “Cigarette” and “Rum and Butter,” highlights intimate storytelling, sensuality, and self-expression. She has supported major Afropop acts like Burna Boy and Wizkid and led a wave of boundary-breaking East African artists.
Turunesh exemplifies creative perseverance, balancing her music career with a full-time job based in Toronto. Despite a two-year hiatus, she returned with “Virgin Denim,” channeling her poetic spirit and sonic innovation into a single that excites fans about her forthcoming album. She is dedicated to purpose, resilience, and the power of Pan-African identity always tying her work back to the continent’s vibrant alternative movement.
Turunesh honors the mantle of visionary, channeling poetry into song with an entrancing voice and bold creative direction. Her work is a living tapestry of storytelling and sound, welcoming listeners into worlds of rhythm, visual art, and lyrical soul, a rising icon whose artistry continues to evolve and inspire the new generation.
