Halifax Afro-Folk Artist Blessing Tangban Offers Ethereal and Hopeful Single 'Prayer'
Emerging from New Orleans’ vibrant jazz scene, Blessing Tangban debuted an introspective, vulnerable and folky sound with 2014’s debut EP Nowhere Girl that opened us up to the world of a lost a 15-year-old Nigerian immigrant in America, starting college, falling in love, getting heartbroken and finding her faith.
Over the course of the last decade, Blessing’s musical career continues to bloom. Her soulful musical spirit has led her to tours around the world, working with renowned African musicians (Johnny Drille, M.I. Abaga) and having her music synced in multiple films. She now resides in Canada where the country has welcomed her with multiple prestigious shows and Canadian artist collaborations. Blessing also won the Galaxy Music Award for best vocal performance for her song “Tebe Tebe.”
Blessing’s latest single, “Prayer,” is a transcendent and hopeful piece written as a prayer to God that she would get through a valley of uncertainty and struggle in her music career and life. The beautiful single is quite literally a written down prayer to God by Blessing which she also hopes restores faith in her listener to continue to be bold and trust in God during times of low light.
I was going through a time where I was struggling to believe that I would get a breakthrough in my life and music career. Things were so tough, rejections and setbacks everywhere I turned and this song just came to my spirit as a way of affirming my faith that I would get everything God has promised me and I would get a breakthrough no matter how negative things seemed to be looking on the outside. That’s why I called it prayer because it is quite literally a prayer I was making and it turned into a song. I had gotten many promises from people and life that fell through and I was just praying and affirming that God’s promises to me won’t return to him without fulfilling the purpose for which it was sent to me. – Blessing Tangban
With a style reminiscent of Norah Jones, Blessing brings a unique fusion of soulful vocals and intricate guitar tunes to the stage as a prolific live performer. Having played at festivals like Splashy Fen in South Africa, Carnival Calabar in Nigeria, and Halifax Jazz Fest Canada, to mention a few. She has opened for renowned Nigerian musicians like WizKid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Timi Dakolo and Patoranking among others. Blessing’s live performance is an emotive journey that melds evocative storytelling with the ethereal sounds of her guitar. Her music resonates with the richness of African soul and contemporary resonance, creating an ambiance that's both serene and compelling.
She is slated to showcase at Contact East in September 2024, in Nova Scotia Music Week in November 2024, and in the Folk Alliance International Official Showcase in February 2025.
