Nectar Woode

Presented by ÖctöpusThere is in Nectar Woode a quiet strength, a magnetic blend of depth, sensitivity and a fervor born from her quest for self, which shines through in each of her notes.

Raised in Milton Keynes, a city with a rich cultural heritage, by Ghanaian-British parents with a creative spirit, Nectar has always been immersed in a world of possibilities. "I feel like my parents wouldn't be happy if I didn't pursue an artistic path," she says with a laugh.

But despite their unwavering support, the calm that reigned in her small hometown often made her openly expressed dreams an almost subversive act.

Her mother, a seamstress, encouraged her to express herself from an early age, while her father's Ghanaian heritage infused the house with rhythm, melody and deep spirituality. Sundays were devoted to church, where the harmonies of gospel choirs deeply moved her.

At home, Nectar was immersed in a rich sonic universe – from Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu to Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway – artists who taught her that soul is not just a genre, but a deep emotion.

This same emotional truth now permeates her own music; earlier this year, Elton John compared her to Nina Simone herself on his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music.