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Toronto artist continues meteoric rise with CEAMA House residency and major award nominations
Toronto, ON – ZOCHI, widely hailed as Canada’s Queen of Afropop and a real-life Nigerian princess, has released her new single and video “Beside Me.” The track, unveiled under the Canadian Emerging Artists Music Awards (CEAMA) Artist in Residence Program, blends R&B soul, hip hop grit, and Afrobeat rhythm into a fearless anthem of belonging, vulnerability, and queer faith.
Recorded with longtime collaborator Walter Jeworski and produced by DJ Dexty (Daniel Rolàk), “Beside Me” draws directly from ZOCHI’s personal journey as a Black queer woman. It follows the success of her single “Alone (Whole Again),” which gained international recognition with features on CBC’s Marvin’s Room, Billboard Magazine, Tinnitist, Cashbox, and Rudy Blair Entertainment Media.
Her career momentum has only grown in 2025. ZOCHI performed at NXNE, joined Jully Black’s “Songs & Stories Tour” in Saskatchewan, and opened for Sean Jones’ Revival Tour at Toronto’s Palais Royale. She is currently nominated for Best Pop Music Video at the Canadian Independent Music Video Awards, as well as Afrobeats Artist of the Year at both the Western Canadian Music Awards and Saskatchewan Music Awards.
CEAMA House Residency
ZOCHI was also named CEAMA Afrobeats Artist of the Year and awarded a year-long residency through CEAMA House, with development support valued at over $50,000. CEAMA House, created by Black Exposed Entertainment, provides housing, marketing, publicity, mentorship, and full-service artist management for emerging musicians. Unlike traditional labels, the organization reinvests proceeds from artist performances into touring and accommodations funds to support future talent.
CEAMA is the first Canadian awards program dedicated exclusively to emerging artists, recognizing creativity, community impact, and social purpose. Mentors for the initiative include MuchMusic founding VJ Michael Williams, veteran producer Solitair, and industry leaders such as Joel Joseph and Juno winner Sean Jones.
Evolution of Sound
“Beside Me” reflects ZOCHI’s growth as an artist, showcasing her lyrical strength, vulnerability, and ability to transcend genres and cultural boundaries. It adds to her expanding body of work that continues to redefine Canada’s Afropop and R&B scene.
The single and video are now available on all major streaming platforms.
🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
📺 Watch: YouTube
For more on ZOCHI, visit zochimusic.com or follow @officialzochimusic.
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Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
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