OneDa: “There is no limit to what I can do in life”

OneDa, a rapper and vocalist from Manchester, UK, is known for her sharp lyricism and melodic vocals. Recognized by BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, OneDa blends old and new Hip Hop, guiding fans through an energetic fantasy.

Photo credit: OneDa – Official

Beyond her music, OneDa is dedicated to community initiatives. She leads hip-hop therapy for Manchester youth and champions projects like Herchester, which amplifies marginalized voices in music. Her vision extends beyond chart success; she aims to establish a hip-hop therapy school for all ages, showcasing music’s potential for positive change. Her drive and authenticity inspire others to embrace their true selves.

Despite starting her music career only two years ago, OneDa’s debut LP showcases her versatility across genres. Collaborations with artists like Sam Binga and Mr. Scruff highlight her talent. Her verse on Vibe Chemistry’s ‘Ballin’’, with over 35 million streams, cemented her reputation. ‘Rude Girl Flex’ earned her a spot on the BBC 6 Music playlist and an appearance at the BBC 6 Music Festival.

OneDa is set to release her debut album, ‘Formula OneDa’, on October 4th. Ahead of the album’s launch, she recently dropped the single ‘Superwoman’, giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come.

EG had the chance to sit with OneDa to learn more about her recent release, as well as her future projects and endeavors.

EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your latest single, ‘Superwoman’! You must be very excited to share this one. What has the initial reception been like so far?

OneDa: The reception has been great so far – I have been tagged in fan stories and playlists. DJs have been spinning the track – it’s been really good. I’m looking forward to playing ‘Superwoman’ and all the upcoming festivals and other unreleased tracks from ‘Formula OneDa.’

EG: So, what’s ‘Superwoman’ all about? What can your fans expect to find on this one?

OneDa: ‘Superwoman’ is about the transformation of starting from a place of no hope and being transformed into a “being” that has unlimited potential.

EG: And ‘Superwoman’, which follows in the steps of ‘Major Pay’ and ‘Set It Off’, is the third single to stem from your upcoming debut 12-track LP, right? Why did you decide to go with these particular cuts leading up to the release of ‘Formula OneDa’?

OneDa: Fans can expect to find a self-produced, jungly break-beat type of vibe with this one. And, as always, powerful lyrics.

“‘Superwoman’ is about the transformation of starting from a place of no hope and being transformed into a being that has unlimited potential”

EG: And what can we expect from ‘Formula OneDa’? Is there anything you can anticipate on that front? What were the sessions for ‘Formula OneDa’ like?

OneDa: I believe this release will really show people what I can do. I believe, before this, that not all of my music has resonated with myself. This is also my first full production. ‘Formula OneDa’ is going to be the first large body of work that I am proud to have out in the world. I’m also proud of the recent ‘Pussy Power EP.’

‘Formula OneDa’ is full of powerful lyrics. Powerful lyrics are words that empower an individual; lyrics that will make people want to get up, and get out and be counted. Lyrics that will make an individual not care about the outside world or outside opinions. Lyrics that will make an individual ‘do them’ and live by their standards, fuck society’s standards and do them. Powerful lyrics make you realize who you really are and the power you have and have always had. If you want to hear powerful lyrics – there are plenty across all my songs on ‘Formula OneDa.’ I am always asking for individuals to step up and be counted!

EG: By the way, can we dive for a bit into the concept of “Pussy Power”, how it came into your life, and the effect it had on you?

OneDa: ‘Pussy Power’ started from a realization of my natural strength, the strength that I was born with, the strength that no one told me about. It was realizing that I am enough for myself. This realization is what ignited my ‘Pussy Power,’ there is no limit to what I can do in life. Standing on that power you have within you is ‘Pussy Power.’

EG: On another note, you’re also very dedicated to community initiatives, leading hip-hop therapy for Manchester youth, and championing projects like Herchester. Can you tell us more about your social involvement and how it came to be?

OneDa: I have always been involved in social initiatives. I started life having a youth worker who picked me up from school. This was the first time I ever made a track. It was a youth worker who took me to the studio, they said I had to do my homework first before I could record. That was really exciting for me.

My work stems from the fact, that if I didn’t have that chance and had someone who cared enough to “care” my life wasn’t going great (I was on the streets doing bad shit, that really I shouldn’t have been doing at that age), they cared enough to care about which direction my life was going in. These people used music to show me another way.

The reason why I am so passionate about social initiatives, Herchester, and helping others find their strength and their power/sound and confidence is because, once upon a time, someone showed me the way, so it’s only right I show others the way.

“It started from a realization of my natural strength, the strength that I was born with, the strength that no one told me about”

EG: Regarding AI, which seems to be such a hot topic these days…What’s your stance on this? Has any form of AI been used in ‘Formula OneDa’?

OneDa: No AI has been used to create ‘Formula OneDa’ in terms of the music or the sound. It depends on how AI is used – if it’s used to take over human roles in music and replace the artist then it’s a bad thing…AI here is not the one.

EG: Finally, what can we expect from OneDa in the next months? Where can your fans catch you playing live?

OneDa: Over the next few months you can expect me to see playing live at UK Festivals… Deershed, Boomtown, We Out Here. A few more singles from me ahead of the album as well… quite a bit to get stuck into!

EG: Thank you so much for your time, OneDa! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!

OneDa: Thank you!

OneDa’s ‘Superwoman’ is now available on Heavenly Recordings. Stream and download here.

Follow OneDa: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook