There are some voices that rise above everything else, not because they are the loudest in the room, but because they carry a certain emotional gravity that pulls listeners in and Ndidi O has built her music around that kind of voice. The Canadian-born, Ireland-based artist works across blues, folk and soul, creating songs that sit somewhere between intimate emotion and collective memory. Her lyrics echo with the thoughts that gather in the back of the mind, while the sounds around them remain human and organic, allowing the emotional context to shine.
Across the years, Ndidi has enjoyed a decorated career that stretches across continents and creative communities. Originally from British Columbia, she first found her footing in the New York open-mic scene, where the directness of live performance shaped her early approach to songwriting. From there she moved through Torontoâs blues and folk circles, developing a sound that blended emotional storytelling with the expressive power of bluesy vocals. Touring across Europe further developed her presence as a performer, eventually leading her to settle in Ireland where she continues to write and record in County Kerry.
Her work has travelled widely, both through international touring and through a steady stream of high-profile screen placements. Ndidiâs music has appeared across major platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu and The CW, with placements on projects such as Orange Is the New Black, The Flash, True Blood, Cloak & Dagger and most recently Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker starring Octavia Spencer. Along the way she’s also received major industry recognition, including two Juno Award nominations and the title of WCMA Blues Artist of the Year.
Now Ndidi opens a new chapter in the form of her latest album, Itâs About Time, a release made with Irish musicians that arrives at an important moment in her career. Its release coincides with three nominations at the 2026 Canadian Blues Music Awards, including Blues Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Producer of the Year for longtime collaborator Steve Dawson, bringing together her own experience, political background and a strong sense of place.
Itâs About Time explores themes of ageing, migration, belonging and resistance, drawing strong parallels between Irish traditional music and the emotional language of the blues, stitching together the two traditions together in a way that feels natural rather than forced. The album was recorded at Monique Studios in Cork City and features Dawson on guitars alongside Alan Comerford on additional acoustic guitar, Mikey OâConnell on bass and Christian Best on drums and engineering.
Opening song “Wanderer” sets up the record with a smokey soundscape of hazy slide guitar notes and strummed acoustic guitar as Ndidi’s soulful voice glides in to craft a truly transportive listening experience of timeless Americana music. With her cover of “Farewell My Green Valleys,” she presents a charming reinterpretation of a beloved traditional folk outing that flows with storytelling lyricism, laid back rhythmic march and alluring vocal performance.
“Come On Home” leans into a more pop-focused sound, serving up an uptempo jam full of memorable melodic leads and energising instrumentation. Other moments move more directly into contemporary political reflection, such as âDown This Roadâ which offers a stark meditation on genocide, displacement and the moral failures surrounding asylum and forced migration, while âOld Cronesâ confronts ageism head-on, calling for music that sustains and steadies rather than demanding spectacle.
âYoung One,â the first official Irish single from the album, explores the experience of perimenopause and the emotional shifts that accompany it. Penned from the perspective of a woman reflecting on the distance between youth and the present moment, the song contrasts the feeling of invincibility that can define earlier years with the clarity and quiet grief that sometimes arrives with age. âShe Moved Through The Fairâ closes the record with a vocal-led reimagining of the Irish classic, highlighting Ndidiâs deep connection to Irish traditional music.
We caught up with Ndidi O to find out more about her musical journey so far, her new album It’s About Time and what she’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Ndidi O below.
Hey Ndidi O, howâs things?
Hiya, things are good. Just adjusting to life in Ireland and getting excited about my upcoming new album.
Whatâs your earliest memory of making music?
My earliest memory of making music would be playing the trumpet in the high school band. I really wanted to play the violin, but that instrument was too expensive, so I got a trumpet and worked my way up to being a soloist.
Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?
Artists I draw inspiration from⊠hmm, that is always a tricky question, as I tend to just appreciate othersâ art and let the world and my interactions inspire me. But let me not sound so snobbish. Artists whose work I admire and am always excited to see would be director Janicza Bravo, playwright and producer Jeremy O’Harris, and musicians Kinnie Starr, Terra Lightfoot, Steve Dawson, along with Steve Marriner. I recently read a novel called The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami that my local librarian (shout out Dolores) recommended. It terrified, inspired and depressed me all in one afternoon. It was a wild ride.
How else do you find inspiration for your music?
Oh, I may have accidentally answered this question. My inspiration primarily comes from my personal interactions with the people and places around me, from well-done films, television shows and novels. But most of my inspiration comes from getting older and interacting with the world. My upcoming album Itâs About Time is probably my deepest reflection to date on the process.
What was your highlight of 2025?
My 2025 highlight was getting to perform in Osaka, Japan as part of the Canadian musicians contingent brought out for the World Expo.
What do you love about the Irish music scene?
I am very new to the Irish music scene, so letâs circle back in a year and I will give you a much deeper response. For now, what I am digging is how supportive it seems to be and the fact that every village has a space to play and share.
How does it compare to Canada?
Canada is very, very big, and so we are all kind of segregated. I am from Western Canada, so my primary musical base of support, both musician-wise and audience-wise, is there, and it can be hard to connect to other parts of the country, so it can be a bit isolating. I find in Ireland it is much easier to connect and work with peers.
What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?
My music and style are very suited to small theatre and acoustic listening spaces. But if I am not playing live, then I think my music makes a good companion for a long drive or a walk. The perfect setting to listen to my upcoming album Itâs About Time would be driving the Ring of Kerry or the Sea to Sky Highway in BC.
How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?
Oh wow, my voice has settled and my range has expanded in the twenty years I have been at it. I would also say my writing has gotten more poetic and my delivery more dynamic than it used to be. I know who I am now.
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
My dream artist to collaborate with would honestly be Enya. I would give anything to go to her castle, hang out with her cats and just have our voices jam.
How did you find making your new album âItâs About Timeâ?
Making my album Itâs About Time was also a highlight of 2025. I got to record at Monique Studios, which is run by Mick Flanneryâs drummer, Christian Best, who not only is an amazing drummer but is also a fantastic engineer and producer. He played drums on this album, along with Mikey OâConnell on bass, Alan Comerford on acoustic guitar and my long-time collaborator, guitarist and producer Steve Dawson from Nashville. It was such a wonderful, relaxed and creative experience and also the first album of mine that I produced, so it was super fun to collaborate and very empowering to make. Everyone contributed so much to the vibe and tone of this album.
What message did you want to get across with this release?
This album is my love letter to perimenopause, to getting older and coming to terms with all the physiological changes. I hope that other women going through this change hear these songs and feel seen, heard and cared for. Our nervous systems are so jacked in todayâs world, so in my music I work intentionally and aim to create sounds that soothe and allow someone to listen and feel warm and loved. I hope that is the effect.
What artist have you been listening to most recently?
I am a big reader and not a big music listener. When I do tend to listen to music, it tends to be my favourites, so songs from artists like Outkast, Kendrick Lamar, Hall & Oates and Sade.
Whatâs the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?
I want people who listen to my music to feel seen, loved and hopefully soothed. I really aim to be an artist who brings a sense of community, love and empowerment. Do I accomplish this? I have no idea, but I try to move through the world with intention, kindness and the willingness to be a helper. I hope that comes out in my musical themes.
Whatâs been your favourite live performance so far?
I have had so many amazing performances, but I will say that performing at the World Expo in Osaka was incredible. I had a translator, and even though most of the audience had no idea what I was saying, and traditionally Japanese audiences are not the most expressive, I found that not to be true. Based on the reactions from the crowd, my energy translated just fine. It was an honour and a joy to have that live performance experience.
Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?
Three artists to headline my dream festival would be Outkast, The Eurythmics and Sade. The festival would take place at the Ancient Theatre of Dion in Greece.
Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?
Oof, well I would say be brave, be focused, resilient and believe in yourself no matter what. Also, you need a healthy dose of delusion along with endurance. The arts is a slow grind, not a race, especially as under attack as it is now with modern tech coming for creative practices. You need to know yourself and what you align with and never stray from your goal. You also have to love what you are doing and remember you create to connect.
Finally, what do you have lined up next?
Up next in March is a short tour in Ontario, Canada around the release of Itâs About Time, then back to Kerry where I will be organising some acoustic shows, along with workshopping my upcoming trip-hop opera An Army of Invisible Women.
Listen to It’s About Time below
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