Nectar Woode

Presented by Öctöpus There is a quiet strength to Nectar Woode, a magnetic blend of depth, sensitivity and a fire born of her search for self, which shines through in every note. Raised in Milton Keynes, a town with a rich cultural heritage, to creatively minded Ghanaian-British parents, Nectar has always grown up surrounded by a world of possibilities. "I feel like my parents wouldn't be happy if I didn't go down the artistic route," she says with a laugh. But despite their unwavering support, the calm of her small hometown often made saying her dreams out loud feel almost subversive. Her mother, a seamstress, encouraged her to express herself from a very young age, while her father's Ghanaian heritage filled the home with rhythm, melody and a deep spirituality. Sundays were given over to church, where the harmonies of gospel choirs left a profound mark on 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. That same emotional truth now runs through her own music; earlier this year, Elton John compared her to Nina Simone herself on his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music.

Presented by Öctöpus

There is a quiet strength to Nectar Woode, a magnetic blend of depth, sensitivity and a fire born of her search for self, which shines through in every note.

Raised in Milton Keynes, a town with a rich cultural heritage, to creatively minded Ghanaian-British parents, Nectar has always grown up surrounded by a world of possibilities. "I feel like my parents wouldn't be happy if I didn't go down the artistic route," she says with a laugh. But despite their unwavering support, the calm of her small hometown often made saying her dreams out loud feel almost subversive. Her mother, a seamstress, encouraged her to express herself from a very young age, while her father's Ghanaian heritage filled the home with rhythm, melody and a deep spirituality. Sundays were given over to church, where the harmonies of gospel choirs left a profound mark on 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. That same emotional truth now runs through her own music; earlier this year, Elton John compared her to Nina Simone herself on his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music.