Ugandan singer Lord Emma Newborn is introducing his latest musical project, The Cursed Heart of the Love, as he continues to establish his identity in pop music under the self-styled title “Lord of Pop.”
Born Emmanuel Newborn M. on May 15, 1996, the singer says his musical journey began in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where producers noticed his distinctive style and stage presence, comparing him to Michael Jackson. When he first visited Uganda as a pop singer in 2024, he says audiences made similar comparisons, inspiring him to create his own identity as the “Lord of Pop.”
Active in music since June 2021, Newborn operates under Emma Newborn Entertainment, where he is the CEO. His sound combines pop, dark K-pop, ballads and punk funk, drawing influences from South Korea, Vietnam and UK pop culture.
His newly released album, The Cursed Heart of the Love, draws on personal experiences from his early twenties, including heartbreak, addiction, drug use and mental health struggles. He says the project allows listeners to connect with his pain and personal journey through music.
Newborn says recording in Seoul and Hanoi exposed him to different music cultures and approaches to the music business. He also recalls attending a BTS mega concert in March 2026, where he says he learned important lessons about live performance.
The singer hopes the album will top charts in Uganda and across Africa. He also has ambitions of becoming an internationally recognised pop star and bringing major global music awards to Uganda.
His previous releases include Agenda Kumakya and Mbeera Mu Love in 2022, I Just Wanna Love You, Ekyeyo and Omutima Omuyonjo in 2023, and Soul in 2024. In 2025, he released the five-track EP A Curse in a Sin.
For his fans, Newborn says the central message of the new album is that everyone’s journey deserves to be told, adding that the pain people endure today can become part of what they achieve in the future.
