Asa has transitioned from contemporary to Afro-pop new wave from her last project titled ‘V’.
Shifting from one sound to another is a common occurrence in an industry where change is ongoing and everyone strives to increase their versatility and adapt to changes, and sums up how Asa made the leap from pop to Afro-pop new wave.
Many popular musicians in Nigeria have gradually changed their sounds or added new viewpoints and ideas to their sound to give their music new vitality.
Asa’s transition from Afro-Folk to a completely distinct new wave pop sound has been nothing short of remarkable.
With four studio albums under her belt and a decade and a half in the industry, Asa’s decision to change her sound remains a mystery, at least for the time being.
However, one thing is certain: her decision to switch to pop has not harmed her creative process; rather, it has highlighted her innate versatility.
Since her big hit Fire on the Mountain in 2007, Asa has been linked to folk music on a regular basis; in fact, it is safe to claim she founded the genre.
All of her albums had fewer pop-style songs and more folk music, all of which were enhanced by her stunning vocals and willingness to perform in her home tongue.
From her self-titled album in 2007 to Beautiful Imperfections in 2011, Bed Of Stones in 2015, and finally Lucid in 2019, each album featured the same style of music until her fifth studio album, V, which shows Asa in a completely new light.
“This record seemed to have taken on a life of its own.” “A lot of the music was created outside of the box, which is something I’m not used to doing,” she told Apple Music.
Because of its refreshing and nostalgic nature, this record stands apart from any other Asa has ever released.
She blends aspects and genres of music from many decades as she sampled the album, which is a mix of pop, Afrobeats, and R&B as she sampled Highlife on several tracks, she incorporated aspects and styles from other generations.
Unlike her folk music, which is mostly ballad-based, the majority of the tracks on this album have uptempo beats.
Asa’s vocals are still excellent, and unlike her previous albums, the majority of the album is recorded in English, as opposed to her native language taking centre stage on a few tracks.
The guitars, piano, and bass drums blend in perfectly, making it feel fresh even though it’s something you’ve heard before.
V is a film that praises love, friendship, and peace while also evoking nostalgic sentiments.
On this album, Asa’s creative approach changed and the production was different, but nothing else truly changed about her.
One thing to keep in mind is that the entire album was produced by P.Priime, a new school producer, which may have affected Asa’s decision to release an album that explores a new sound in general.
Regardless, it’s encouraging to note that the alteration has no negative impact on the quality of the sounds she produces; in fact, it improves it.
On this album, she sounds happy as she explores love in all of its manifestations.