Nigerian-French singer Aṣa is known for her soulful voice and thoughtful lyrics. She recently spoke with GQ South Africa about the power of multilingual music. In the interview, Aṣa explained that she chooses to create music in different languages because it allows her to:
Connect on a Deeper Level: By singing in various languages, Aṣa can tailor her message to resonate more deeply with specific audiences around the world.
Spread the Message: Using multiple languages allows Asa to share her music and ideas with a wider, more global audience.
“There are some songs that I cannot sing in English as they wouldn’t convey the message I want. Because of the tonal beauty and musicality of singing in Yoruba, it feels very personal, yet it also resonates with everyone. However, in terms of breaking through and reaching a wider audience, English is the global language,” Aṣa tells GQ South Africa.
Asa’s background is a beautiful blend of cultures.
She grew up in Nigeria’s Oyo State before moving to France at a young age. This unique upbringing has definitely influenced her music in two key ways:
Rooted in Africa: Asa credits her Nigerian heritage with keeping her connected to her African roots. This influence is likely reflected in the rhythms, melodies, and even the storytelling in her music.
Global Connection: Living in France exposed Asa to different cultures and languages. This, she says, has helped her connect with a wider, global audience. Her music might have elements that resonate with listeners from all over the world.
Asa’s career achievements speak for themselves. Her 2008 self-titled debut album won the prestigious Headies Award for Album of the Year. Asa doesn’t limit herself by genre; she embraces her heritage while taking a global approach to creating music that connects with people everywhere.
“I always allow for that space when I’m making music. I want to create music with everyone in mind, including those who may not know or understand my language or culture. But I always strive to include them. I’m from Nigeria; I want to act locally but think globally in my approach to music.”
Asa’s music is a captivating blend of traditional and modern styles.
Asa’s music is heavily influenced by rich Yoruba folk traditions. This influence can be heard in the storytelling elements, melodies, and possibly even the instrumentation of her music.
This talented artist isn’t afraid to experiment! She skillfully infuses these traditional elements with Jazz and Funk, creating a unique and soulful sound.
Asa’s sound keeps growing. Her 2022 album “V” showcased her exploration of Pop and Afrobeats. The album also featured some exciting collaborations with big names in African music, including Wizkid, the Nigerian highlife group Cavemen, and the Ghanaian superstar Amaarae.
KCee has a new album called “Mr. Versatile“. This name shows that KCee is good at doing many different types of music. He can change with the music industry, which is always changing.
KCee is a Nigerian singer who has been making music for 20 years. He has become very famous in Nigeria because he keeps changing his style and making popular songs.
Many other singers worked with KCee on this album. These singers come from different countries. Didi B is from France. Kanika Kapoor is from India. Oxlade, Skibii, Teni, OdumoduBlvck, and Ijaya are all from Nigeria like KCee. Diamond Platnumz is from Tanzania. OneRepublic is a group from the United States.
KCee started singing 25 years ago. He first sang in a church choir.
That’s where he met Presh, who used to be in a band with him. Their first album was gospel music. Later, they changed to rap and Afropop music.
KCee’s father was a pastor and a DJ. He also owned stores that sold music. This probably helped KCee become interested in music.
The “Mr. Versatile” album is about going back to where you came from. It’s about being proud of your culture. It’s also about growing and changing as a person and as a musician.
The album has different types of music in it. There’s highlife, dancehall, and Afropop. KCee hopes this music will make people happy, especially people who grew up watching old Nigerian movies.
“I am thrilled to share ‘Mr. Versatile with my fans,” says KCee. “This album represents a journey of creativity and growth, and I cannot wait for everyone to experience the music that I have poured my heart and soul into.”
KCee shows that getting older can be a good thing. As he grows older, he finds new ways to achieve his old dreams. He does this by wanting to change and grow.
“Mr. Versatile” is KCee’s new album. He wants this album to make people feel happy. He hopes the songs will be good to listen to during important moments in people’s lives.
The album does what KCee wanted it to do. When you listen to it, you feel happy and carefree. It’s a fun album to hear.
‘Mr. Versatile’ Album Tracklist
Hypnotize (Produced by Shugavybz)
Finally Finally (Produced by Shugavybz)
Feel Am ft. Didi B (Produced by JaySynths)
Obalende (Produced by JaySynths)
Better Mama (Produced by JaySynths)
Big Fish (Produced by Masterkraft)
Motor ft. KanikaKapoor (Produced by JaySynths)
Level Up (Produced by Shugavybz)
I Pray (Produced by JaySynths)
Into You (Produced by Runcheck)
Slow Mo (Produced by JaySynths)
Agenda (Produced by Spotless)
Ganja Man (Produced by Jazzwad)
Sista Blessing (Produced by JaySynths)
Ebelebe ft. Teni, Skibii (Produced by JaySynths)
Hallelujah (Produced by Spotless)
Ojapiano Remix ft. DiamondPlatnumz, OdumoduBlvck (Produced by JaySynths)
Ojapiano Remix ft. OneRepublic (Produced by JaySynths)
Yemi Alade has just released a new album called “Rebel Queen“. She is a famous singer from Nigeria, known all over the world. Yemi Alade is very popular in Africa. Her music makes people happy and shows off her African background.
“Rebel Queen” is Yemi Alade’s sixth album. The name of the album shows how much she loves being African.
In this album, Yemi Alade mixes many types of music. She uses Afropop, Dancehall, Amapiano, Lingala, Afrobeats, reggae, and R&B. This mix of sounds will make people all over the world enjoy her music.
People call Yemi Alade “Mama Africa” because she celebrates African culture. In “Rebel Queen”, she sings in many languages. She uses Yoruba, English, Igbo, French, and Swahili. This shows she wants to share African music with everyone.
The “Rebel Queen” album has many different feelings in it. It talks about many parts of life.
Some songs on the album are special. “Karibu” is a song that praises Africa. “Tomorrow,” tells people to live in the present. “Happy Day” is about being happy even when things are hard. “African Woman” celebrates strong African women. “Peace and Love” asks people to be kind to each other.
The album has 16 songs. Some songs have other famous singers in them. Angélique Kidjo sings in “African Woman”. Ziggy Marley sings in “Peace and Love”. Innoss’B sings in “Lipeka”. Konshens sings in “Baddie” remix. These songs show how Yemi Alade can work with different types of music.
Yemi Alade has worked hard to make “Rebel Queen”. It shows how brave and original she is. She has become very successful in a job where there are more men than women.
After her “African Baddie” tour around the world, Yemi Alade is now going on a “Rebel Tour”. “Rebel Queen” is a very important album for her. It shows that she is one of the best singers in Africa.
Burna Boy is a prominent African musician who has achieved global superstar status through his award-winning music and record-breaking concerts. On July 26, 2024, YouTube will host a special livestream event called “YouTube Music Nights presents Burna Boy” to celebrate his 5th album, “African Giant.”
Global superstar artists in intimate settings feature in the YouTube Music Nights program. These events aim to create exciting live video content that highlights the special connection between artists and their fans. Burna Boy has amassed a following of 5 million subscribers on YouTube. He will perform in this intimate setting to celebrate the hits from his “African Giant” album.
“African Giant” was released in 2019 and marked a significant milestone in Burna Boy’s career. The album catapulted him to international fame. It earned him a nomination for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. The album produced several hit songs that contributed to its success. These hits include “On The Low,” “Gbona,” “Dangote,” “Killing Dem” featuring Zlatan, and “Anybody.”
Burna Boy has expressed enthusiasm about participating in this upcoming YouTube Music Nights event. He said,
“Celebrating the 5th anniversary of ‘African Giant’ with a special performance in London, supported by YouTube Music, has been an incredible experience. This album holds a special place in my heart as it represents a pivotal moment in my career and a powerful statement of African pride.”
“We are thrilled to present Burna Boy on YouTube Music Nights, celebrating the 5th anniversary of his groundbreaking album, African Giant,” said Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music at YouTube in Africa.
Burna Boy’s YouTube channel will exclusively stream the celebration. Fans around the world can watch it there.