In Rotation: Pan Tèrra

A Brown University grad with a double major in Computer Science and Music who spent five years writing code for Apple just dropped the most anti-corporate groove of the year. Pan Tèrra is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer whose passport stamps—raised across the UK, Nigeria, Hong Kong, and the States—bleed directly into her self-described nomadic soul-pop. Her latest single, "Quit My Job," is exactly what the title promises, but the execution is pure psychedelic funk. Produced by Rob Aragón, who you might know from his work with Mr Eazi and Victony, the record is anchored by a thick bassline. Pan Tèrra wrote this one entirely on her own. She sings right in the pocket of the groove, letting her vocals stretch out over the alt-leaning production. When she hits the line, "If the man is the sickness, it can’t be the cure," her vocals slide over the beat with total clarity. The drums stay crisp, giving the heavy bass room to breathe while her harmonies stack up in the background. A lot of artists try to make anti-work anthems, but they usually end up sounding like novelty records. Pan Tèrra makes leaving corporate stability sound like a spiritual awakening. She built a solid foundation over the last couple of years with independent drops like "Godfada" and "Eve," which racked up half a million streams. Now, with her debut EP on the horizon and a new video for "Seeing Red" in the mix, the momentum is shifting. The industry is catching on. "Quit My Job" just landed on Spotify’s #NowWatching playlist, and her audience numbers across YouTube and Instagram are climbing this week. Independent radio stations from Grand Rapids’ KAXE to Dayton’s WYSO and Novaphonic.FM are already spinning the record. She traded the golden handcuffs for the vocal booth, and we are all better off for it. Check it out below.