Nadia Baldé started writing compositions and founded a band called HAWA B. As a bandleader, composer, and singer-songwriter, her passion lies in creating dense and exciting soundscapes, pushing limits with innovative content, and employing a rich palette of colors and textures. As a touring artist, she aims to champion the cultural-artistic wealth that stems from Canadian diversity.
Nadia started her musical journey at the age of 9. Through discipline, and consistent training she has been able to position herself as a professional musician, toured across many countries, and participated in prestigious events with artists such as Hubert Lenoir, Charlotte Cardin, Malika Tirolien, Clay and Friends, Fouki and many more as a back vocalist and/or vocal arranger.
While soul music and jazz are undoubtedly clear influences in HAWA B, alternative-rock is also a main source of inspiration. As a young black woman, she is proud to create music that smashes stereotypes about women and artists of color and their work. It is important for her to challenge preconceptions about black music and remind people that rock is also part of black heritage.
She aims to provide comfort through her lyrics while simultaneously dismantling negative connotations around sadness and other difficult emotions. HAWA B has created her own musical universe to portray sadness in a positive light, inspiring the title of her debut EP, “Sad in a Good Way” which led her to be nominated at Gala Dynastie for “Révélation musicale de l’année”.
She more recently collaborated with the artist Djely Tapa (Afrikana Soul Sister) for a remix of her song "End" that reached the 2nd position of sirius xm's french charts. She is currently working on her second EP “Sadder but better” with producer Félix Petit (Les Louanges, Safia Nolin, Hubert Lenoir, FELP).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Nominated as “Révélation Musicale de l'année” at Gala Dynastie 2023 edition
Performance at Festival International de Jazz de Montréal 2023
Official Showcases: M pour montréal 2023, Global Toronto 2022
Media coverage and radio play across Quebec (CBC, Radio-Canada, SIRIUS XM, CHOQ, CISM, CHYZ)
Performances at numerous festivals: Festival BleuBleu, Festijazz de Rimouski, Flourish Festival, Small World Festival, Pop Montréal, M pour Montréal
