Nigerian-South African Afrogospel artist Noël Mio began her music career at a young age. But after the loss of her best friend, and while she was dealing with grief and pain, music, she said, became a form of escape for her.
Mio said in 2020, after the COVID-19 lockdown, the first song she put on music platforms like Spotify was “Watchman.” “I had just lost my best friend, and I was in a very dark space,” said Mio, “ … so, I just left the church I was in, as well, where I was a youth leader … I was dealing with a lot of grief and a lot of pain, and I think music … was like kind of the outlet, just to begin the path and say, ‘okay, this is what I want to do.’”
But before 2020, Mio was featured on the song “Mirror” with South African singer Martin P.K.. The single was published in 2017 and was the first song in which Mio was featured as an artist. After that, she said, she thought she could try music out herself.
Since “Mirror,” Mio has collaborated with other music artists, including Afrogospel artist Marizu and award-winning producer TBabz, on the single “Working in Me,” dropped in 2023.
In addition, Mio has unveiled several songs, including the upbeat “Jesus Loves Me” on her 2025 album, “Clarity.” “‘Jesus Loves Me’ was to remind people … that no matter what you’re going through, you are loved by God and you have to say it …” said Mio, who also fought depression, anxiety, and not feeling loved by God. “I think some of us, we tend to blame God because we think ‘this has happened,’ but you have not actually accepted His Word. And He can love you, but you also have to accept His love and acknowledge it.”
In April 2026, Mio released the jazzy, Afrogospel sound, “Calling.” She launched the single, which is about trust, as an affirmation for all those who needed to hear it, and for those who had trust as their word for the year. “One thing I say with God is ‘I don’t even trust me sometimes, but I can trust you,’” said Mio, “‘I can trust your character, I can trust that you are the same, and so even when I don’t know what I’m doing at this point, I’m just leaning on you and leaning on your word.’”
In June 2026, Mio dropped another single, her latest: “Breakthrough.”
Full Interview With Noël Mio About Her Music Journey.
Also, Mio said she has an EP coming up later this year. She said, “It’s very positive, very happy, very dancy.” “Nervous about it, because I’m not a dancer … but it’s a very good vibe, you know? It’s a blessing,” said Mio. “I’m so happy about it, because it’s showing that journey of the girl who was so down and depressed, and seeing that testimony and that joy of her being so happy and full of faith … I want people who have gone through that to see me and know that God can change your story, God can make a way and God can make things better. ”