Nneka Shares Her 'Heartbeat' at SXSW

Even a hurt leg isn't going to stop Nneka from performing at SXSW. "I wish I could dance," the Nigerian singer-songwriter reluctantly told the crowd at the Austin Day Stage before plunging into the song 'Kangpe,' complete with a scat solo from her bassist.

Nneka has already heralded countless comparisons to fellow alternative soul sisters Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu for her ability to bridge neo-soul, reggae and hip-hop on her debut 'Concrete Jungle,' but with only a handful of US shows under her belt, she has yet to display her convictions -- rooted in the pangs and struggles of Africa -- live.

"This is a very important song," she said, grabbing the attention of the audience, "because I'd like you to participate." While Nneka's cheerful and playful attitude between songs is contagious, her performance style in both empowering and convincing. "This is a very political song inspired by the oil exploitation that has been happening in my country Nigeria," she said of 'VIP.' "For my people, one man's comfort is another's discomfort," she continued, citing the corrupt leaders and oil company bigwigs from America and Netherlands that the song is named for.

But at SXSW Nneka wants to evoke change and put the power in the people, thus she renamed the track 'Vagabonds in Power' and has the crowd sing along on the chorus. But it's her track 'Heartbeat' that gets people out of their seats. Her voice transforms into another instrument, adding breathy percussion, like a heartbeat itself.

"Can you feel my heart beating," Nneka sang. And while in her own next lyric she sings "No, no, no, you don't," Nneka delivers it with such strong persuasion it's hard not hear it.