Qing Madi was just 16 years old when she released her first single, “See Finish”, a wistful R&B track about searching for meaning in betrayal, which instantly became a breakthrough hit on TikTok. Her self-titled debut EP arrives following a year of steady viral success for the Nigerian singer-songwriter, building on the popularity of “See Finish” with subsequent releases “Why” and “Ole”—all of which feature here—and positioning herself as the only one to watch in 2023. Qing Madi draws a circle around her intentions with a bold flourish. The mellow, Afropop wash of “Madi’s Medley” opens the project with the line “so I’m finally finally finally at the point that nobody can lower”, and, indeed, the EP’s solid combination of world-class production and sophisticated songwriting proves to be unshakeable. Expanding on her already proven formula of blithe midtempo beats and raw lyricism delivered in clear, sweet tones, Madi opens up on everything from yearning for someone who is already in a relationship to the disorientating feeling of unexpectedly falling in love. The standout cut? “Chargie”, an irresistibly smooth groove, augmented throughout with a slick horn riff, that burrows into your brain and stays there long after you last heard it.