MODOLA Is in Her Breakout ‘Talk’ Year

Twenty-year-old Temidola Awosika, known professionally as MODOLA, is quickly emerging as one of the most notable new voices in Nigeria’s growing alternative pop scene. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 17, 2005, MODOLA has spent most of her life in Milan, Italy, where she developed her artistic sensibilities surrounded by a rich blend of African […]

Twenty-year-old Temidola Awosika, known professionally as MODOLA, is quickly emerging as one of the most notable new voices in Nigeria’s growing alternative pop scene. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 17, 2005, MODOLA has spent most of her life in Milan, Italy, where she developed her artistic sensibilities surrounded by a rich blend of African heritage and European influence.

Aside from growing up in Milan, Italy, Modola also says she was heavily involved in the dance community in Milan from an early age. She acted, sang, and danced for years. Due to his excellent dancing skills and involvement in competitions, she was constantly traveling. Modola’s aspirations to move back to Lagos guided her, and by 16, she moved there to pursue a professional music career.

Though she has only recently made her debut, MODOLA’s music is already making waves. Her first single, Talk, was released earlier this year and debuted at number 71 on the Nigeria TurnTable charts—a rare feat for a new, independent act with little prior exposure in the Nigerian mainstream. The single’s modest but impactful success has earned her recognition on the TurnTable Chart’s Emerging Artists list, where she appears alongside artists such as Fido, Famous Pluto, and Poco Lee.

Talk released on PJ Records has so many layers, and that’s what lands Modola in the lexicon of rising afropop acts who once were inspired by distinct eras of afrobeat: think the blog era, where artists like Waje and Tiwa savage got their footing (Modola looks up to both of these acts). In her previous conversations, the artist-rapper expresses that Talk paints a picture of where she’s at right now as a music-maker. But it also does more than that; it introduces her to new listeners by way of fleshed-out arrangements. These notions, when paired with hip-hop, gospel, and rhythm and blues influences, create a fusion sound that culminates with Modola ushering in a reflective chapter of his artistry.

MODOLA’s style is often described as a fusion of soul, pop, and R&B, shaped by her early exposure to legendary performers. She cites Tina Turner, Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Jackson as formative influences. Their vocal strength, stage presence, and emotional delivery are qualities she says she hopes to embody in her work. “I grew up watching Tina and Michael on screen,” she told a local outlet. “There was a kind of power they had that moved people, and I want to find my way to do that too.”

Before stepping into the spotlight, MODOLA studied Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences, areas she credits for deepening her understanding of culture, people, and storytelling. “Those disciplines helped me explore identity and emotion,” she once shared during an interview. “They feed into the way I write and express myself in music.”

While her debut has positioned her as one to watch, MODOLA remains largely outside the traditional music industry machinery in Nigeria. Her unique sound—polished yet raw, international yet rooted—has piqued the curiosity of industry observers, many of whom see her as part of a new generation of artists reshaping the boundaries of Afrobeats and pop.

Critics have pointed to Talk’s lyrical maturity and restrained production as signals of an artist operating with vision. Rather than chasing viral fame, MODOLA appears focused on artistic growth. In a landscape often defined by tempo-driven hits, her debut stood out for its introspective tone and vocal control.

Last year, Modola signed a recording deal with PJ Records after a brief Freestyle that went viral, earning industry praise with her performance, including co-signs from Skales and other influential tastemakers. Now on her next project, New Light ep drop on the way, Modola is poised to make 2025 his defining year.