Tems, Saszy, Purple Halo, and Gbots on Nigeria’s music hub

In one of the world’s most dynamic music cities, three producers and artists – Saszy Afroshii, TinyBraz (aka Purple Halo), and Gbots – invite us into their creative worlds. Ask any of them to describe Lagos, and you’ll hear the same word: “chaotic.”. But within that chaos lies the magic – where sound and city collide to create something electric.

Together, they reflect on what it means to be African women in music, and how the energy of Lagos continues to influence them. Their stories also intertwine with the mission of the Leading Vibe Initiative, founded by GRAMMY Award-winning artist and Native Instruments Artist Board member Tems, which champions a new generation of women redefining what leadership in music looks like.

Jump to these sections:

• Saszy Afroshii on the energy, movement, and inspiration of Lagos
• How Saszy turned her love of rhythm into a production career
• Why female producers in Nigeria push harder and lift each other up
• Tems on how the Leading Vibe Initiative empowers women in every corner of music
• Why inclusion changes how women are seen and heard
• Purple Halo on identity, independence, and refusing to fit a label
• How creativity helped TinyBraz rebuild her life and voice
• Gbots on creating We Are ProducHERS and uniting female creators across Lagos

Want to know more about our partnership with Tems and the Leading Vibe Initiative?

Learn about NI x Tems

Saszy, what does it feel like to work and create in Lagos?

It’s an experience, honestly. You can’t really explain Lagos unless you’ve lived it. We have the hustle, the bustle – Lagos traffic that makes you rethink your plans every day. But in all that, there’s so much energy.

I could be driving, or just walking down the street, and suddenly I’ll feel inspired. Maybe it’s a sound, maybe it’s the rhythm of kids playing, or a chant from a street corner. That spark – that little sound – can push you to create something new.

That’s the thing about Lagos, it forces you to stay inspired because you’re surrounded by life. Everyone’s on the move. Everyone’s chasing something – to be better, to be number one. The city doesn’t let you slow down, and I think that’s what gives Lagos music its heartbeat.

How did you first get into production?

2017 was when I decided to take production seriously. Before that, I was just experimenting. But once I started, I couldn’t stop.

It’s been a smooth experience with ups and downs – some days you make something you love, and other days you start over. But it’s part of the process.

Sometimes I start with percussion – conga, cowbell – when I want something traditional. Other times, I go straight to plugins like Kontakt or Maschine for the drums. It depends on the artist, the story, and the feeling in the room. I think it’s all about instinct – trusting what comes to mind and what the moment is saying to you.

What’s it like being a woman producer in a male-dominated space?

It’s very important for females to support each other. This industry is mostly occupied by men, and people still think production is a man’s world.

You walk into a session and someone asks, “So, where’s the producer?” And I’m like, “Hi, I’m here.” You see that shift in their expression. It’s subtle, but you feel it.

You end up having to go the extra mile just to prove yourself – not because you can’t do it, but because you’re not expected to. That’s why it’s such a good feeling when you see another woman breaking those limits and doing it really well. It shows people we belong here too.

Tems, tell us about the Leading Vibe Initiative and what inspired it.

Lagos is a vibrant city that creates a drive in you – a different kind of motivation that’s very authentic and unique. That energy shaped me into who I am.

The Leading Vibe Initiative is meant to create space for women in music – in all categories, in all aspects – and to support them however possible. The goal is to redefine how women see themselves and how others see women in music.

Learning how to produce helped me solidify my sound. Usually, you get a beat from a producer and you go from there. But when you produce your own music, it becomes more authentic – more true to you, more distinctive.

And honestly, it’s a Nigerian thing to wear different hats. We’re multi-talented by nature. Everyone’s always asking, “What’s next? What else can I do?” That’s just who we are – curious, restless, and creative.

Why do you think representation matters so much?

Because when women are involved in every step – producing, engineering, writing – the conversation changes. People receive you differently. There’s more respect.

That’s what the industry needs: spaces where women are seen, heard, and given the same opportunities. I feel really inspired by that, and I’m so grateful to be part of it.

Purple Halo, how did you find your sound and your path as an artist and producer?

I’m a singer, songwriter, and producer – and I also DJ. I actually started producing on my phone. I downloaded BandLab and made a beat, just playing around. My boyfriend at the time heard it and said, “Wait, hold up. I think you could actually do this.” That was how it began.

For me, the core message of the Leading Vibe Initiative is authenticity – staying true to who you are and what you believe in. That hit me deeply because I’ve always been a little androgynous, somewhere between girly and masculine.

The label I was signed to wanted me to lean into that girly side, but it just wasn’t me. I wanted to find myself again. They were imposing what they thought a female artist should be.

When I heard Tems say, “You have to double down on what you believe in,” it gave me the courage to leave and go independent. I wanted to build something real – my own sound, my own way.

You’ve said music changed your life – how so?

In Nigeria, a lot of us are born with less – sometimes with nothing. I grew up middle-class, but after my parents passed, things changed. I fell into real poverty. I was even homeless at times.

Now I have my own place and my own setup. My studio’s makeshift. You can make your art anywhere. That’s the beauty of it.

Songwriting and production saved me. They gave me a voice and a future.

Gbots, what drives your work as both an artist and a community builder?

I’ve been making music since I was eight. I started with piano, then moved on to saxophone at ten. During the lockdown, my friend and I decided to learn production together, and I fell in love with it.

When I started, I barely knew any other female producers. I honestly thought I was the only one. That’s why, at the end of 2022, I started We Are ProducHERS – a community for female producers, artists, and songwriters.

It’s a space for opportunities, for learning, and for connection – a place where someone can look around and think, “If she can do it, I can too.” It’s about representation and belonging.

I love collaborating with people who think outside the box and keep an open mind. Even the ones who say, “I just started,” they still teach me something new every time. It’s about being open, exploring, and growing together.

Closing thoughts

From the traffic jams to the late-night sessions, Lagos moves with rhythm – and these women move with it.

For Saszy Afroshii, TinyBraz, and Gbots, producing is more than music. It’s resilience, identity, and community – an act of creation and defiance.

As Tems’ Leading Vibe Initiative continues to open doors for women in every corner of the industry, these artists stand as proof that Lagos doesn’t just produce music – it produces movement.

We at Native Instruments believe that everyone should be included and encouraged in the music-making process. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Tems to make production accessible to everyone.

Learn about NI x Tems