British soul-R&B rising star Geo Baddoo has a message for us all: it’s her turn, and she’s not asking permission. With the release of her latest single “My Turn”, the London-based singer-songwriter and producer delivers a spellbinding ode to self-worth, boundaries, and walking in intentional energy.
From the very first note, “My Turn” feels like an unbothered exhale—the type of song you play when you’ve finally decided to put yourself first, no apologies necessary. Geo’s feather-light but commanding vocals float over warm instrumentation, and the soundscape is intentionally minimal, giving her ethereal vocals full control. Percussions are courtesy of the late Reuben “Sleepy” White, whose presence adds a grounding rhythm to the track’s meditative heartbeat. The production, handled primarily by Geo herself with longtime collaborator Steve Marshall, is stripped back but purposeful, letting her storytelling do the heavy lifting. Lyrics like “water me, let me grow” and “tell me something I don’t know” double as affirmations, rooting the track in a quiet but resolute self-love.
Lyrics That Land Like Mantras
Geo tells MEFeater the song was born out of transformation. “I felt like I’d been getting wrapped up with people, environments, and behaviour cycles that didn’t want me to thrive and win,” she shares. “Writing ‘My Turn’ was me making the decision to go tunnel vision into myself and just let go of any concept of a limit. That felt authentic to who I really am. To not do that, I’d be doing a disservice to myself.”
That authenticity shines through every note. The single nods to the timelessness of her influences, Sade, Tracy Chapman, Erykah Badu, Nina Simone, while still sounding distinctly her own. Geo’s influences are woven throughout, but she’s far from a copy-and-paste of her inspirations. Instead, she’s carving her own lane, blending jazz flourishes, R&B grooves, and even subtle Caribbean sensibilities into a sound that feels timeless and refreshing all at once. If artists like Cleo Sol or Snoh Aalegra have been on repeat in your playlist, “My Turn” and Geo’s sound will feel both familiar and refreshing.
A Declaration of Growth
What makes this single particularly compelling is how much of Geo’s personal evolution is embedded in it. In her own words, “‘My Turn’ is a declaration—drawing a circle around myself and carefully choosing what energies I let in.” It’s music as a boundary, as self-care, as a proclamation that healing and growth don’t have to be quiet background work, they can be center stage.
Geo’s journey to this moment has been anything but small. Raised in the countryside with her father’s home studio as her creative playground, she’s performed everywhere from London’s Union Chapel to Brussels’ Ancienne Belgique to Los Angeles’ Genghis Cohen. She’s even shared stages with The Teskey Brothers on their UK and European tour. Each chapter of her story has built toward this one, where her artistry finally meets her moment of unapologetic ownership.
“My Turn” also sets the stage for what’s next: a string of releases throughout 2025 leading up to her highly anticipated debut project in 2026. If this single is any indication, we can expect music that is equal parts grounding and elevating; songs that feel like a conversation with your higher self while still hitting you right in the chest.
Why “My Turn” Matters
Geo Baddoo isn’t just releasing music; she’s writing a manifesto. And in a world that often asks women to play small, “My Turn” is a necessary, empowering refusal. Consider this your reminder: when you press play, it might just inspire you to claim your own turn too.
MEFeater Q&A with Geo Baddoo
MEFeater: “My Turn” is such a bold declaration of self-worth and growth. Can you take us inside the moment or mindset that sparked the writing of this song?
Geo Baddoo: It’s true, this song to me is pure self love. It feels very gentle and sensitive, but the message is strong. Like me! I experienced a transformation within myself and that spurred the song’s creation. I felt like I’d been getting wrapped up with people, environments, and behaviour cycles that didn’t want me to thrive and win. I felt like I was minimising myself, and it sent me into a serious creative block for a while. Writing ‘My Turn’ was me making the decision to go tunnel vision into myself and just let go of any concept of a limit. That felt authentic to who I really am. To not do that, I’d be doing a disservice to myself.
MEFeater: You produced the track yourself, with added input from Steve Marshall. What was that collaborative process like, and how did you ensure the sound remained true to your personal vision?
Geo Baddoo: I would say we produced it together as an equal collaboration. We’ve worked together since I started writing music, so there’s a special relationship there. We’ve witnessed each other’s evolution so creating a song that quite literally marks a turning point in my life was a significant moment. Steve is an intuitive, sensitive musician who completely got the spirit of this song. It was very natural and I loved the experience.
MEFeater: You’ve described “My Turn” as “drawing a circle” around yourself. What does setting boundaries and protecting your energy look like in your life offstage?
Geo Baddoo: It’s a spiritual thing. I feel like my need to create music is like a force inside of me, or ‘a gift’, so I see it as something that needs to be protected. Music is the central thing in my life — it informs all my choices, and everything comes back to it. I get a lot of comfort from knowing I have that core purpose. But honestly, I’m a human being and a very sensitive one so I definitely go through periods of feeling very overwhelmed and unbalanced. I’m coming out of one now. I just have to keep a dialogue going with myself and keep it real. No avoidance. I’ve lived enough now to know what energies and activities I definitely should avoid in those phases, but I do mess it up sometimes.
MEFeater: Your sound carries echoes of Sade, Erykah Badu, Tracy Chapman. How do you consciously weave those influences into something that still feels like your own?
Geo Baddoo: Those artists have definitely inspired me with their timelessness, individuality, and authenticity. I don’t know if I weave them into my work with direct, meticulous intention, but I think the spirit of their work and what they represent will definitely be coming through — they’re pioneers so arguably all R&B/Soul of today is a descendant of these artists! And before them we have Astrud Gilberto, we have Nina Simone, we have Billie Holiday, we have Joni Mitchell. All of the music I love lives in my subconscious, and filters through my unique experience and perspective.
MEFeater: You’ve said that “My Turn” marks the start of a new chapter. What’s different about this era of Geo Baddoo compared to where you were creatively a few years ago?
Geo Baddoo: I have a lot more trust for myself creatively now, and I truly believe I have something original to offer the world. I feel more confident and empowered by my unique abilities and have no desire to imitate or compare myself. Like I said, I’m lifting those self limiting beliefs and I know how to channel my personal life experience into music in many ways. I keep surprising myself by all the different ways I can do it, so that’s reassuring. This era is also full of collaboration and joining forces with interesting people, so I’m learning a lot from that too.
MEFeater: As you build toward your debut project in 2026, what’s one message or feeling you hope listeners walk away with after hearing your full body of work?
Geo Baddoo: I hope my music allows people to tap in and feel something. In the songs I’m writing now I’m definitely covering a lot of bases, stylistically and lyrically. But even if it seems one way on the surface, I’m rooted in my central message and mission. I’m always pushing towards a higher place within myself, and as a community with others. Even if the words don’t directly mirror someone’s experience, I think the energy of the music can speak for itself.
MEFeater: The phrase “refusing to play small out of fear” is powerful. What advice would you give to young women or creatives in general who are struggling to claim space for themselves?
Geo Baddoo: Women are so used to shapeshifting to fit comfortably for others, it’s actually crazy. I think it’s important to build towards having the core belief that you have an individual light to shine on the world. It’s only your own, and it needs radical protection. Keep coming back to that and let it ground you. With that, I also think accepting that you aren’t going to be understood and appreciated by everyone is important, and that helps when you face setbacks. Fear is inevitable when you’re an artist and you’re coming from an honest place. I’ve written a song called ‘Mighty’ about exactly this — I look forward to sharing that!
MEFeater: Caribbean music sensibilities subtly influence your sound. How would you say your cultural background has shaped your rhythm, melody choices, and storytelling style?
Geo Baddoo: My personal background is English and West African, specifically Ghana. But I’ve grown up around Caribbean music and musicians who I’ve learned a lot from and who have contributed to my recordings, so that is definitely a factor. The rhythms and grooves have definitely shaped how I feel music — giving me a natural pull toward warmth, movement, and subtlety. Storytelling-wise, I love how Reggae music blends joy, resilience, and life truths, and I think I carry that same layering into how I write.
MEFeater: Do you start with words, melody, or feeling first when writing a song like “My Turn”? Has that process evolved over time?
Geo Baddoo: I’d say feeling first, because I like to improvise and follow my instincts when deciding the direction a song is gonna go in. Writing songs is basically therapy to me, so it definitely starts with the feeling. Whatever I’m coming with that day is allowed. I really enjoy writing in general so sometimes lines do randomly come to me fully formed and I store them up. Similarly, sometimes I’m out and about and get a melody concept and store it up.
MEFeater: You’ve often described your music as a vessel for self-discovery. How has making “My Turn” helped you discover something new about yourself?
Geo Baddoo: My Turn really helped me to appreciate how much I’ve grown. Writing the song allowed me to be direct and real about what I need. It helped me to pledge that commitment to myself, so the song is like a mantra to me and I’ll always keep it in my core.
Geo Baddoo’s “My Turn” is a spiritual checkpoint, a mantra, and a reminder that stepping into your own power can sound soft yet strike with force. With her honesty, timeless influences, and clear-eyed vision for the future, she’s carving out her place in the soul-R&B landscape on her own terms. And if this is just the beginning of her next chapter, we can’t wait to see what she does when the album drops in 2026.
Follow Geo Baddoo on Instagram: @Geo.Baddoo
Stream “My Turn” on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Youtube.
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