by: Alana Brown-Davis
After the massive success of her last album ‘Fountain Baby’, Amaarae is back with a project that will certainly be a significant followup. The singer has been teasing the release of her new album ‘Black Star’ all spring and has rung in the summer season with her new single ‘S.M.O’. The release of ‘S.M.O’ marks a new beginning in the singer’s career.
This comes after several career-defining moments for the singer in this past year alone. ‘Fountain Baby’ has received stellar reviews from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. She collaborated with Childish Gambino, Janelle Monae, and Rina Sawayama. In addition to this, Amaarae joined Sabrina Carpenter as the opening act of her ‘Short N Sweet’ tour. In April, Amaarae made history as the first Ghanian artist to perform on the Coachella stage. During her performance, she shaved her head signifying the arrival of a new era in her career. She’ll spend this summer going on a high volume festival tour that includes Lollapalooza, Afronation, Lowlands, Osheaga, and Glastonbury.
Amaarae Makes a Statement in ‘S.M.O’
Amaarae made this statement about the new single in a press release:
For as long as I’ve made music, fusion has been my strength, and I think this comes to full fruition on “S.M.O.” The song takes inspiration from Ghanaian ’80s highlife trailblazer Ata Kak and blends it with a mean Detroit club bass, a drum roll akin to both Magic System’s “1er Gaou” and Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” and an infectious zouk melody that sounds like a steel pan lipsing an evil synth. I feel like the new Donna Summer mixed with Control-era Janet, and the song pretty much speaks for itself. Like “Pleasure Principle” or “Love to Love You Baby,” I don’t know how much clearer one can get when they ask you to “SLUT ME OUT.” The message can’t be mistaken, and the beat makes you move. That’s all I want to do this summer, make people dance and feel things!
Amaarae has built herself up as an artist who does whatever she wants. Over the years, she’s become known for her style, combining an ethereal voice with production that infuses Afrobeats, Alte, and R&B. With this new single, she continues to unabashedly express her identity as a young Ghanian-American artist with a passion for creating memorable soundscapes. ‘S.M.O’ displays her fierce love for her Ghanian heritage. The title ‘Black Star’ is a triple entendre. The album references her identity as an artist, the roots of her music, and the black star at the center of the Ghanian flag.
As a young artist, Amaare continues to prove her versatility as she fluidly moves through genres. Fans will surely stay tuned to Amaarae this season.
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