Ghanaian-American alt-pop artist Amaarae has launched a bold new chapter in her musical journey with the release of S.M.O, the lead single from her forthcoming third studio album, Black Star, due out August 8 under Interscope Records.
Titled as an acronym for “Slut Me Out,” S.M.O fuses Afro-fusion, alternative pop, and sultry R&B into a high-energy, emotionally charged soundscape. The record marks a confident return for Amaarae, whose feather-light vocals glide effortlessly over bouncy percussion and futuristic production, underscoring her fearless approach to genre-blending.
The single signals the beginning of her Black Star era—one that promises to spotlight themes of African identity, personal liberation, and radical femininity. Amaarae’s unapologetic lyricism and vibrant sonic palette are matched by the accompanying music video, shot in Ghana and directed by Omar Jones.
Visually rich and symbolically layered, the video leans heavily into sensual aesthetics and Afrocentric mystique, offering a cinematic counterpart to the song’s audacious tone.
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S.M.O follows the critical acclaim of her 2023 album Fountain Baby, as well as the 21-track deluxe EP Roses Are Red, Tears Are Blue — A Fountain Baby Extended Play. Together, these releases cemented Amaarae’s status as a boundary-pushing force in the global alt-pop and Afrobeats-adjacent spaces.
Since the release, fans have flooded social media with praise for the track’s infectious rhythm and empowering narrative, already calling it an early contender for this summer’s breakout hit.
With S.M.O, Amaarae not only teases what’s to come on Black Star, but also reasserts her place as one of Africa’s most innovative and genre-defying voices on the global stage.
Listen to S.M.O here.