Much of Aisha Badru’s magic lies in alchemy — distilling an often-tangled human experience into simple truths, quieting the cacophony to pave a path towards introspection. The soulful indie-folk artist’s work is at once powerful and beautiful. It’s why she boasts over 135 million streams, critical praise from the likes of NPR Music, Okayplayer, The Line of Best Fit, Afropunk, Clash, Ones To Watch and more, and why brands such as Volkswagen have tapped into her catalog to enlighten their own messages.“Everything has a purpose,” says Aisha Badru, the Nigerian American, sometimes earthy, sometimes ethereal singer-songwriter. “I was meant to be here, doing this. And it’s just part of my purpose to experience certain levels of trauma that are very universal, going through every process of healing, and somehow putting it together so I can help guide someone else.” Tellingly, she’s titled her latest, which explores the intersection between romantic entanglements and self-care, Learning to Love Again. “Everyone can relate to having self-esteem issues or being hurt,” she adds. “Those themes have played a big role in my life.”Badru’s career has fatefully led her to this exact point, beginning with her debut album, Pendulum, a melancholic musing on life’s highs and lows, through her last release, The Way Back Home, an optimistic take on the future. Badru found her voice the moment she decided to make music, but with Learning to Love Again, there’s now a palpable drive to amplify it.