Continuing to forge her own path with her trailblazing sounds and song-writing, the internationally celebrated, multi-platinum Nigerian music star Asa, today releases her highly-anticipated new album ‘V (FIVE)’ (out now via Platoon). The 10-track project includes her successful hit singles “Mayana” and “Ocean” alongside brand new collaborations with Wizkid, Amaarae and The Cavemen.
Releated: Legendary Nigerian Songstress ASA Teases Upcoming Album ‘V (Five)’ With New Single “Ocean”.
Taking cues from Pop, Afrobeat, R&B, Soul and electronic influences and mixing them with breathy, soulful vocals to create dreamy, ethereal soundscapes, V (Five) sees Asa embracing a newfound freedom. Whilst at first this might sound like a marked evolution in sound, Asa states that this is a part of her ever evolving journey.
In fact, collaborating with some of the exciting new crop of creatives accentuates the album’s themes of freedom of love. Asa says that the process allowed her to challenge herself. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist in terms of sound, she found herself working with talented artists who were not afraid of imperfection and was able to see the immense beauty within that.
The creation of ‘V (Five)’ represents a full circle moment for Asa as she wrote and recorded the entire album in Lagos. Constantly being on the road, she previously never had the opportunity to create a whole body of work in Lagos although she had written most of her past material there. Being back in Nigeria during the pandemic, allowed her to not only record the album in the comfort of her home but also to connect with some of the brilliant artists and creatives from the country and continent.
Asa says, “I was at home thinking what to do next like everyone else. So, I threw open my door to connect with friends and creatives. I met Priime, he is fresh and has such a clever way with production.”
With production from the exciting Nigerian producer Priime the new album was born. Speaking on the new album ‘V’, Asa says, “It was organic. I didn’t realize I was making an album. The European leg of my tour was paused due to Covid-19, everywhere was shutting down. On a last-minute decision, I decided to head back to Nigeria. I took one of the last flights out of Paris back to Lagos and there I wrote the entire album.”
The album is also informed by Asa’s passions outside of music. Living by the Lagos Lagoon where she gets to see the water every day and experiencing this whilst writing, she describes it as ‘calming’. Also a keen motorcyclist, often riding around the city on her vintage VanVan. Asa says she does it ‘to feel alive’ and can feel the ‘hairs on my neck stand up’ as she weaves in and out of the bustling Lagos traffic. This ebb and flow of emotions, the serene with the thrill, is laced throughout the album as Asa invites you to join her on her breath-taking journey and to create your own.
V (Five) tracklist:
‘Mayana’
‘Ocean’
‘IDG’ ft Wizkid
‘Nike’
‘Show Me Off’
‘Morning Man’
‘Good Times’ ft The Cavemen
‘Believer’
‘All I Ever Wanted’ ft Amaarae
‘Love Me Or Give Me Red Wine’
Alongside the release of her new album, Asa will be bringing her invigorating, one-of-a-kind live performance offering to London for a headline show at the iconic Royal Albert Hall on May 3rd, followed by dates in Manchester and Birmingham and a special performance in Lagos on May 8th.
Stream ‘V’ Here.
Read Also: ASA Is This Month’s Spotify EQUAL Music Programme Ambassador
