Halima’s long-anticipated debut album ‘SWEET TOOTH’ was released earlier this month through drink sum wtr. This project showcases her flourishing artistry, striking a balance between emotional depth and strength, vibrant club energy, and serene moments. She incorporates a diverse range of sounds, including R&B, soulful pop, jazz, and influences from her upbringing, such as British soul, UK garage, and Nigerian-American music, all blended into a unique creation. Growing up between Lagos and London and currently based in Brooklyn, Halima's music serves as both personal reflection and celebration, honoring all facets of her identity.
Clash spoke with Halima to delve into the creative journey behind her new album, its emotional landscape, and the significant influences that resonate with her.
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To start, I have to ask, do you really have a sweet tooth? If so, what’s your favorite candy?
Yes, haha, I have a huge sweet tooth! I love everything, from Twizzlers to gummy bears—sweets are my passion. Honestly, any delicious dessert will do. You know the chocolate cake in Matilda? That's what I’m talking about.
Can you share about your recent project ‘SWEET TOOTH’? What inspired it?
It’s fundamentally about my tendency to please others and overextend myself. I’m fascinated by the concepts of gluttony and indulgence—trying to fill the void with something sweet, thinking it will bring great joy, but it ultimately harms you. With this project, I aim to redefine what sweetness means. My name Halima means sweet, generous, and kind, and I often feel caught between embracing that and wanting to distance myself from it. Like, I’m not just sweet; I’m more than that. But I’ve come to understand that I can exist on a spectrum of sweetness without needing to justify myself. Does that resonate?
Absolutely, it makes perfect sense. Especially as a woman in the music industry, I can imagine it’s a tricky balance between expectations of gentleness and sweetness and not wanting to seem too accommodating.
Exactly! I've tried both approaches, and now I think, why not embrace all parts of myself? I can be sweet and not sweet, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s a reflection of me, and that’s what ‘SWEET TOOTH’ embodies.
And is ‘SWEET TOOTH’ characterized as a hero or a villain?
Neither… It represents humanity. ‘SWEET TOOTH’ combines both aspects, illustrating the duality we all have within us.
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You’ve mentioned the album being inspired by a night out. Can you describe that experience?
Sure! I envision it as spanning from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Starting with ‘omoge’ through to ‘oops,’ we begin warming up, entering the nightlife where the sweetness is enticing but not overwhelming yet. Then I dive into the party atmosphere, surrounded by temptations as I gradually sweeten up. By 3 a.m., I'm fully immersed in it, indulging at the peak of ‘SWEET TOOTH.’ That’s the moment when you realize you might feel unwell, leading to self-reflection, which I express in ‘wasting my body.’ After that, we transition into ‘cocoa body,’ where we reclaim our sweetness and confidently own the dance floor—feeling empowered. The rest of the album continues to celebrate that acceptance, and I find my footing again.
And which London borough do you envision going out in? What venues do you frequent?
In London, I’d be in South and East—so places like Hackney, Lewisham, and venues such as Dalston Superstore, Jumbi, and Peckham Audio.
There’s a voice note included in the closing song—who is it from?
That’s my mum! She's an accountant, and she tends to give advice through financial metaphors. In this track, she talks about the gold standard, explaining that gold defines wealth and value because it never loses worth. She said, “You are gold,” implying that your value never diminishes and you must stay true to who you are. It felt fitting to conclude the album with that message.
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‘SWEET TOOTH’ has a prominent visual identity. Can you elaborate on that? Did you have a clear vision?
It was definitely a case of form following function. The music acts as a guide and a blueprint for the visual representation, which I built upon. I knew I wanted a unique character to symbolize “sweet tooth,” and it was like piecing together a beautiful puzzle with my whole team—nail tech Liliana Laynes, MUA Ruth Black, creative director Bellamy Brewster, stylist Oyinkan Akinbolagbe, additional MUA Kyrstan Brandt, and stylist Via Vitale—every detail mattered. We shot the album cover in March, and though I
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Halima's highly anticipated debut album 'SWEET TOOTH' was released earlier this month through drink sum wtr. In this project, she fully blossoms, achieving balance between