Tiwa Savage has stepped into a space she’s never shown the world before—and it scared her. Known for nearly twenty years as the Queen of Afrobeats, owning stages and delivering hit after hit, she’s now peeled back the layers in her most personal project yet, This One Is Personal.
The 16-track body of work brings together voices like Skepta, Taves, and James Fauntleroy, but at its core, it’s Savage at her rawest.
“This is the most open I’ve ever been on an album,” she shared with Apple Music. “Every song connects to something I’ve lived through. It took me two years to finish this record.”
The release came just eighteen hours before she headlined London’s KOKO, a bold move that placed her new sound straight into the spotlight. While she remains the reigning Afrobeats force, this project leans heavily into R&B, revisiting the roots of her artistry. Now, gracing the cover of Hunger Magazine, the Grammy-nominated star reflects on heartbreak, growth, and why some of the tracks still feel too raw to perform on stage.
Performing the album live for the first time
“It was amazing, but I was nervous! We only announced the show two days before, and the album had just dropped. I kept thinking, Oh my God, nobody knows the words yet. Afrobeats usually means everyone’s dancing and singing back to you, but this project is more R&B. Still, the crowd lifted me—they were like, Sing, girl! When you create something true to yourself, it always connects.”
Collaborating with Skepta on On The Low
“That session was such a fun break. I had been pouring my heart into songs, then I got in the studio with this really good-looking guy, and I was like, Okay, this is a nice shift! But beyond that, Skepta is genuine. He told me he loved the track, promised to hop on it, and the very next morning, his verse was in my inbox.”
Facing criticism about age and expectations
“At 27, I was told I was too old to be signed. Recently, someone on social media told me to quit music, get married, and rest. I used to feel bad about starting late, but now I know there was a reason. God is using my journey to inspire others beyond music. You could be 25 and still unsigned, but look at me—I made it. I don’t hide from my age. I embrace it. Nothing can stop me from doing what I love. Even in a wheelchair, I’ll still be singing, looking good, and trust me, I’ll still be able to steal your man.”
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