Paris-born, Nigerian-French singer, songwriter, and multi-platinum selling recording artist, Bukola Elemide, professionally known as Aṣa unreleased new song “Ocean” reportedly leaked online.
Aṣa grew up in a small town near Lagos, in the south-western part of Nigeria. Twenty years later, Aṣa returned to Paris where her life as an artist took off. Early in her career, Aṣa drew inspiration from artists such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, King Sunny Adé, Ebenezer Obey and Lagbaja
She released her debut album in 2008 to critical acclaim and has since released three studio albums and two live albums. As the world familiarizes itself with Nigeria’s booming afro-fusion hip-hop, afrobeat, dancehall, pop hybrid, the other side of the country’s sounds may seem like uncharted territory, Asa has been present and consistent in her singular, distinct voice that cuts through the noise.
Asa’s third studio album, Bed of Stone, was released in August 2014. The singles are “Dead Again”, “Eyo”, “Satan Be Gone”, “The One That Never Comes” and “Moving On”. She went on a world tour from 2015 to 2017.
On 14 May 2019, she released a new single titled “The Beginning” and on 25 June 2019, she released the single “Good Thing”. On 11 September 2019, she announced on her Twitter page that her new album, Lucid, will be released on 11 October 2019. True to her words, the album was then released on 11 October 2019.
Aṣa soon to be released fifth album, was recorded after the lockdown put a stop to her 42 city LUCID tour and forced Asa to leave her Paris base for home in Lagos, a welcomed solitude, which resulted in beautiful encounters and an album full of brightness, cheekiness, heartfelt emotions and features for the first time ever.
Asa is a Nigerian songwriter, recording artist, and one of Nigeria’s most exposed musicians with an estimated net worth of $28 million.
The ‘Be My Man’ singer joins fellow influential African female musicians including Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), Somi (Rwanda/Uganda/US), Gyakie (Ghana) and Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde).
Equal Music is an initiative that seeks to cultivate gender equality in music and support female artists and podcast creators. The announcement comes ahead of Aṣa’s forthcoming album V and after the release of her single ‘Mayana’, which is featured on the Equal Music playlist(link is external).
“I’m honoured to be the Spotify Equal Music ambassador of the month,” Aṣa said. “It’s great to be part of something like this – a movement that’s new yet has always been. It’s beautiful when we are celebrated and recognised for contributions to music and art over the years. In the lead-up to the release of my album V, this is awesome.”
Spotify head of music for sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu said: “Through the Equal Music programme, we continue to amplify the work of women creators by offering our resources and creating opportunities for these artists. We’re proud to showcase Aṣa, who is well known and loved for her boundless ability to create her own world through music, with timeless vocals and themes that capture the emotions of a generation.”
Popularly known for her hit single ‘Jailer’, Aṣa is a pioneer of left-of-centre Afro-fusion and is a huge inspiration to alternative and contemporary African artists, both on the continent and in the diaspora. Her music is best defined as a timeless classic, with a charismatic, daring and evolutionary style. Her compositions fuse indie pop, soul, R&B, jazz and Afrobeats.
