Afro Neo-Soul and Afrobeats artist MOSES, born Miracle Obianuju Moses, chose to answer the call of music—a call more sacred than the hyper-religious home she was raised in. Christened after her great-grandfather, a well-respected figure in Anambra State’s Christian community, MOSES embraced her musical calling at the age of 18, when she owned a browsing phone for the first time and discovered a world of music far removed from the Psalms she heard play in church.
The first chapter of her journey into the music scene presents a naturally gifted yet emotionally wounded youth peeling back layers of bottled-up emotions—like in a therapy session or the pages of a personal diary—on her debut EP, ‘PHOENIX RISING: The EP’.
To a listener, ‘PHOENIX RISING: The EP’ paints a vivid portrait of MOSES’ emotionally distressing episodes while offering a glimpse of the strength she summoned during those moments, narrated through vulnerable melodies.
In this interview with Afromixx, she shares just how deeply she holds music to heart, not just as a means of escape but as a bridge to the divine. And how tints of spirituality, which shaped her formative years, richly spill into the five-track debut project—from the production to her delivery.
Let’s start from the roots. What was growing up in PH City like for you?
Yes, I grew up in PH City, but not in the posh areas. I grew up in Woji. The name may sound posh, but it wasn’t, not at the time.
When and how did music first enter your life? Was there a specific moment or memory that made you choose to do music?
Music came into my life at a relatively young age. I would come home stressed after a long day, and music became my outlet to let out all the pent-up emotions. I would just play beats and vibe.
MOSES is quite an unusual stage name, especially in today’s scene. Is there a symbolic or layered reason why you chose it as your professional identity?
Yes, there’s a reason. My great-grandfather was a very respected man; he brought the first Anglican church to Anambra State. His name was Moses, and so is my surname. I grew up in a Christian home, knowing the stories of Moses in the Bible, so I decided to keep the name. It’s prophetic to me.
What kind of music did you grow up listening to? Were there any artists or sounds that shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in a very Christian home, to the point where if I was caught listening to worldly music, I’d be made to read Psalms. But once I got a phone that I could browse with, I was able to download songs like Burna Boy’s and Omah Lay’s.
Congratulations again on your debut project ‘PHOENIX RISING: The EP’. The title alone evokes rebirth and transformation. Is there a specific story or period in your life that inspired that title?
Yes, ‘PHOENIX RISING: The EP’ is like a personal diary centred on past experiences and being reborn from them. Thanks to the gift of music, I’m no longer tethered to the pain.
Your debut project feels deeply personal. On “STORY O.M.L.” you sound like you’re shedding a lot of pain. Did you go through something intense during the writing of that song, and are we going to keep getting this level of vulnerability in your music?
I was, in fact, shedding a lot of pain, and the vulnerability in “STORY O.M.L.” is a narration of my struggles and bottled-up emotions from my teenage years up until now.
There are undertones of reggae throughout the project, especially on “HIGHLY SPIRITUAL”. Was that intentional, or just a natural extension of your influences?
I wouldn’t say it was intentional. I had written down the song before heading to the studio. Once I got there, I just delivered it how I felt.
When people press play on your music, what are some of the emotions or experiences you want them to leave with?
I want them to feel much better. I want them to listen to my music and know someone (me) relates to what they’re going through. I want people to think of my music when they’re in need of something that brings them relief.
‘PHOENIX RISING feels like an introduction into your world. Now that you’ve opened that door, what else should we expect from MOSES?
You can expect a lot more good songs. More good vibes too.
As a new artist with such an expressive first offering, how do you plan to grow your sound or stretch beyond it?
I intend to explore more genres with my sound and see how I can fit into as many as possible.
If you could collaborate with any artist, home or abroad, who’s on your radar?
Can I name more than one? Bloody Civilian, Burna Boy, Omah Lay.
Finally, what would success look like to you, not just career-wise, but personally and artistically?
Artistically, it’s when someone presses play and feels like I just told their story—like I reached into their silence and gave it sound. Personally, success would be peace and seeing the people I love happy and stress-free.
Stream Phoenix Rising: The EP and share your thoughts.
