One of the goals of this series is to spotlight creatives stepping into the scene with something different, a kind of light that’s defying, raw, and impossible to ignore. That’s Esoterica. A singer, painter and deeply spiritual creative with a voice that pulls you in and a mind that moves between worlds.
For this edition of Greencamp’s Creator Spotlight, we conversed with Esoterica, the UK-born Nigerian artist redefining what it means to be multidisciplinary. In our conversation, she opens up about her journey of self-discovery, what it felt like growing up different, the process of unblocking her throat chakra and the story behind her signature shade of blue. She’s proof that art isn’t just one thing, it’s every version of yourself finding a voice.
Q: What’s your real name, and how did you come up with the stage name Esoterica?
My name is Abigail. I was really drawn to and curious about the word ‘esoteric’ when I first heard it from Ram Dass, a spiritual teacher I was studying at the time. When I found out its meaning, which I summarise as ‘secret knowledge’, although it’s much broader than that, I immediately knew it would be my name. I believe that magic and spirit are a part of everything — most especially music, most especially the mundane, ordinary aspects of life — and so I needed a name that incorporated that sentiment, so as soon as you hear it, you know what I’m about, whether or not I’m speaking on God or what I ate for breakfast this morning.
Q: What was your childhood like? Where were you raised, and where do you live now?
I was born in the UK and grew up there. I definitely didn’t fit in as a kid, but had trouble admitting it. It was difficult not having anyone in my immediate environment or even on TV who was similar to me, who inspired me creatively, or even that I wanted to be like. It wasn’t until I was 22 that I even began to understand that I was an artistic person. I’d never seen an example of anyone I knew who’d made something of themselves in a creative career, and so I didn’t think it was something that was possible for me.
Interestingly though, I think that feeling of dissociation and being misunderstood has been one of the main driving forces in my career. I feel like it’s my job to be that person for some little girl out there who doesn’t know she’s allowed to be cool and dark and angry, but also soft and supremely sensitive and bursting with light. I feel like a lot of people, myself being the worst of them, have tried to dim my light throughout my life. So I’ve spent a lot of time trying to set myself on fire again.
Q: When did music start for you, and when did it become something serious?
I always sang secretly. But because I was singing so quietly to myself so as not to be heard, I never really knew if I was actually good or if it was just a delusion. And this led to chronic stage fright and a blockage in my throat chakra that took years of mental, physical and spiritual work to undo. It was only in 2020 that I decided that the only person standing in my way was myself, and so after that I decided to take my music and my dream more seriously, because deep down I’ve always known it was my purpose. I had no idea how to get there though, but I truly believe that the path forms as you walk it, and my life is becoming a testament to that.
Q: How would you describe your sound to someone hearing you for the first time?
Indie, alt-pop, hip-hop, grunge-surrealism. Lol. Just like my visual art and my personal style, it’s a mix of absolutely everything. But the through line is my mind, my voice — whether it’s expressed visually or audibly. I think I have a pretty unique voice, so no matter what genre I’m experimenting with, it always ties everything together somehow.
Q: Are there any notable names or movements that inspire your music?
Definitely Frank Ocean. There were a lot of lonely nights, bleeding out, staring up at the sky, feeling somewhat less alone because of Frank. And I think that’s your job as an artist — to help people feel less alone. To show them that someone else might just be feeling what they’re feeling too. Because that’s the basis of human connection at the end of the day — sensation. What you feel is what your life is. So maybe you can understand me a little bit now because you know how I feel.
Q: You also paint, and your style is very eccentric. Can you tell us how that began and what inspires your visual art?
I started painting in 2021 randomly one day. I hadn’t painted since I was like 14 but I remember being really good at it at school. But I forgot. Genuinely. Years passed and I’d always just assumed it wasn’t something I could do until I just tried it. I think that’s why it’s so important for people to try new things. You have absolutely no idea what you’re capable of if you’d just give yourself a chance.
My visual art is inspired by what I see around me, and the feelings and mental states that pass through me. I remember when I first started I experimented with a lot of black and dark colours, but as time has gone on I’ve found myself more attracted to brightness, playing with highlights and experimenting with colour theory, as my disposition has changed. It’s crazy how many people you can be in one life. I’ll never again say I am this or that, because there have been so many moments where I had so much conviction about exactly who I thought I was or what I believed, and over time it’s just washed away, gently, like a tide. It didn’t even have the decency to be dramatic. So now I try not to define myself by my feelings, and understand that everything is temporary.
Q: Is there a connection between your music and your paintings — do they influence each other?
Most definitely. I often use my music to inspire my paintings. I love creating visual representations of my words and my music because it adds another dimension to my world. It’s literally like going from 3D to 4D — to be able to see sound, and vice versa. I feel so fucking blessed that I have the ability to do that, you have no idea.
I believe everything is a story, and all my art forms — whether writing, painting or music — are always telling the story of my life in one way or another. So I get to remember my eras like that, which is quite profound. I can always remember what mental state I was in when I was painting; more so than when I’m writing a song. Sometimes with music I look back on lyrics I wrote and I’m like damn girl, where did that come from? But with painting, because it’s so painstaking and meditative, you get a lot more time to think, and so I know exactly which version of myself I was during each piece, so it’s kind of like a journal in a way.
Q: Your strong association with the color blue feels like a signature. Could you unravel what that means for you?
Like I mentioned before, my throat chakra was blocked for a long time and I had to dig down real deep to unbury it from all the years I had spent silencing myself emotionally and physically. And the throat chakra is blue.
A couple years ago, after what seemed like a lifetime of wearing and sitting exclusively in a dark, black aura, I felt myself being attracted to this very specific shade of electric blue. So naturally, it was like if I closed my eyes and walked in any direction I would always end up in front of that colour. And everything is spiritual to me; there are no coincidences, only messages from God that you can choose to hear or not. I eventually made the connection between the blue and my voice and realised that it was time for me to speak.
Q: How much do fashion and styling factor into your overall artistry?
I’ve recently realised that I am actually a fashion girly. I think fashion is incredible because it’s like introducing yourself without having to say a word. You can tell so much about a person by the way they dress, and I feel like clothes, just like everything, carry so much energy in them.
And so I love thrifting because I love clothes with a story. I love clothes with a history that are unique and one of a kind. Finding a gem always gives me a gambler’s high, because sorting through a million dusty old people’s clothes is like losing over and over again at the slot machine. But that moment you get that big win makes it all worth it, and it makes you wanna go back again to feel the rush just one more time!
Q: Between live band performances and studio recording sessions, which space do you feel most at home in?
I absolutely love performing with a live band and getting to fully embody Esoterica and take up as much fucking space as I want. I think it’s important to get to feel HUGE sometimes, and that’s how I feel on stage. I think everybody should get to feel that way from time to time, if not always.
Q: The Nigerian underground music scene is gaining more traction this year. How does that make you feel as an artist within it?
I feel like I’ve spent my whole life spinning around in a circle trying to find my voice. But it was only the moment that I decided to let go and surrender completely that I realised it was right here with me all along. In my throat. Imagine that.
And God’s timing is always perfect timing because He’s put me exactly where I need to be, with exactly who I need to be with, so I feel like I’m perfectly aligned. This is only just the beginning for Esoterica, best believe it.
Q: Are there names in the underground you’d love to collaborate with?
I really love Joyce Olong, she’s always been a favourite of mine. She’s also a good friend, but we’ve only started and never finished anything together. Joyce, where you at?!
I also recently found this guy called FOLA. I don’t know if he’s underground or not, but his song ‘robbery’ really blew my socks off. Oh, and of course Obongjayar and Esoterica would be the most divine collab of all time, but that one’s gonna happen soon too.
Q: A recording session with Tems or SZA — who are you picking?
SZA hands DOWN, sorry!
Q: What should we expect from Esoterica in the near future — any projects, maybe an EP?
I’ve got 2 EPs already ready for ya’ll! Lemme just release a couple more singles to get the people going, and then we can talk.
Q: What’s the bigger vision for your art — both music and painting?
Existing for Free IS the moment! I wanted to find a way of combining my music, writing and visual art in one place and that created the brainchild Existing for Free, which I plan to develop and scale into the biggest indie music platform on the continent! Watch this space.
Esoterica exists at the intersection of sound, spirit and storytelling, a world where music heals and everything is connected. Her voice feels like revelation, her art like a mirror. And as the Nigerian underground continues to evolve, voices like hers remind us that there’s beauty in the in-between, in the magic of the unknown.
Follow Esoterica’s journey and stay tuned for her upcoming releases — trust us, this story is only just beginning.
