Singer Alicia Olatuja first came to the public’s as featured soloist with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir at President Barack Obama’s Second Inauguration, and since has established herself as a versatile singer across jazz and classical music. Her first appearance on Whirlwind sees her team up with Michael Olatuja, providing the vocal arrangement for ‘Soki’ from Lagos Pepper Soup.

After training as a classical vocalist, Olatuja appeared in numerous operatic productions, nefore beginning to work with the likes of Chaka Khan, BeBe Winans and Christian McBride in a gospel and jazz context. This career pivot has seen Olatuja work with Becca Stevens, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jazz at the Lincoln Center and her own jazz-based ensemble, who recorded their first album Timeless in 2014.