Award-winning Nigerian R&B singer-songwriter Rukmani returns with her sophomore EP, Softies Vibe, an eight-track project that explores the many sides of love, desire and emotional vulnerability while celebrating the confidence and self-respect that define her artistry.
Blending R&B, soul and Afrofusion with dancehall and amapiano influences, the EP brings together different versions of Rukmani shaped by different moments in her life. Through emotive vocals, poetic songwriting and richly textured production, she moves between attraction, temptation, intimacy and uncertainty, creating a body of work that feels personal without losing its sense of playfulness.
At the centre of Softies Vibe is an exploration of sensuality, not as a carefully constructed image, but as a natural thread connecting its songs. Rukmani embraces the freedom to want someone deeply, express her emotions and enjoy romantic connections without compromising her boundaries or sense of self. The project presents softness as a strength, allowing vulnerability and self-assurance to exist side by side.
The opening track, ‘MOG’, short for “Matter on Ground”, immediately establishes that confidence. Rukmani understands the attention she attracts and approaches it with composure, setting the tone for a project in which she is comfortable acknowledging her appeal and expressing what she wants.
That confidence takes on a more flirtatious energy on ‘Lock It In’, featuring Ema Onigah. Here, Rukmani challenges a love interest to stop holding back and act on the chemistry between them. ‘Down for It’ continues in a similar direction, exploring the lasting impression attraction can leave on someone even after a shared moment has passed.
However, the EP does not present desire as a straightforward experience. On ‘Sneaky Link’, Rukmani introduces secrecy and complicated circumstances into the mix. Built around trumpets, electronic textures and relaxed percussion, the track captures the excitement of an attraction that exists in the shadow of another relationship. There is a tension between the thrill of being desired and the reality of becoming involved with someone who already has a partner, adding another dimension to the project’s exploration of intimacy.
The second half of Softies Vibe moves between mutual attraction and the uncertainty that can accompany romantic connections. On ‘Property’, featuring Tar1q, Rukmani expresses her desire openly, while Tar1q matches her energy in an exchange centred on attraction, trust and emotional surrender.
‘Whine’, featuring F3line, slows the pace, creating a more intimate atmosphere shaped by close dancing and lingering chemistry. The collaboration allows the EP to settle into a softer mood, offering a contrast to the more playful confidence heard earlier.
That sense of certainty is challenged on ‘Top 5’. Faced with someone who has not decided where she fits into his life, Rukmani allows her vulnerable side to emerge. She may be interested, but she is unwilling to accept being treated as just another option. The song captures one of the project’s defining ideas: desire does not have to come at the expense of personal standards.
The closing track, ‘Check on Me’, brings the EP back to the self-assured energy of its opening. Reconnecting with the idea introduced on ‘MOG’, the song reinforces Rukmani’s position as the central figure in her own story. It provides a fitting conclusion to a project that moves through different emotional states without allowing any single one to define her completely.
Softies Vibe builds on the intimacy of Rukmani’s earlier releases, including her Angel On The Run EP and debut album 3XL, which explored the interconnected experiences of love, lust and loss. It also develops the playful confidence introduced on her recent singles ‘Serial Kisser’ and ‘HIH (Hot In Here)’, giving greater definition to the “Softie” identity that has become an important part of her artistic world.
For Rukmani, being a Softie does not mean being passive or lacking ambition. Her understanding of softness allows room for emotional openness alongside determination, loyalty and personal strength.
“Being vulnerable doesn’t erase the fact that I’m hardworking. It doesn’t erase the fact that I’m loyal or that I’m a trustworthy friend. It doesn’t erase the fact that when I want something, I go after it,” she says. “I think that’s the irony of being a Softie. We can be tender and emotional and vulnerable, and at the same time, we can be incredibly strong.”
That perspective runs throughout the EP. Rather than offering listeners one fixed image of herself, Rukmani presents a fuller portrait shaped by confidence, sensuality, uncertainty, tenderness and self-respect. The result is a project that acknowledges the contradictions of being human, particularly when emotions and romantic expectations become complicated.
Born and raised in Port Harcourt and now based in Lagos, Rukmani began singing in church at the age of six. Her early connection to music helped establish the emotional honesty that continues to shape her songwriting. Since beginning her professional journey in 2021, she has developed a sound rooted in R&B, soul and Afrobeats, drawing on personal experiences to explore womanhood, heartbreak, desire and self-discovery.
Artists including Styl-Plus, 2Face and P-Square have influenced her musical upbringing, while her own catalogue continues to reflect an evolving blend of soulful expression and contemporary African sounds. From Angel On The Run to 3XL, Rukmani has consistently approached songwriting as a way to make sense of her experiences and create connections with listeners navigating similar emotions.
With Softies Vibe, she takes that approach further, creating space for different sides of herself to coexist. Across eight tracks, she explores what it means to desire, to feel uncertain, to be emotionally open and, ultimately, to remain grounded in who she is.
The EP’s central message is clear: softness and strength are not opposing qualities. Rukmani embraces both, offering an intimate and self-assured exploration of modern love that leaves room for vulnerability without sacrificing independence.
