Asa: new Bob Marley?
There’s no shortage of soulful female singer-songwriters on the airwaves but Parisian-by-way-of-Nigeria singer Aṣa might just offer something different from the dominant R&B/club beats sound.
An established star in France, Aṣa is making a bid for a British breakthrough with the finger-clicking 60s-styled Be My Man (see clip below), a catchy track which could be the first hit of a long-awaited British summer.
Aṣa, 29, grew up in Lagos and her music bears the hallmarks of an upbringing listening to Afrobeat, soul, funk, reggae and rock. Performing at a showcase for industry folk held at the BBC Club in Great Portland Street, Aṣa demonstrated a honeyed-vocal style similar to Lauryn Hill.
She’s been called a ”twenty-first century Bob Marley” and she performed reggae-tinged songs of struggle but, as with tracks like “Why Can’t We” from her latest “Beautiful Imperfection” album, there’s an optimistic edge to the songs.
And they each feature the kind of smooth choruses that must have impressed the Radio 2 contingent checking her out.
Aṣa says: “The first album reflected my state of mind then. I had a lot to talk about — social and political issues. Beautiful Imperfection is different, it has more brightness. This time, I wanted to create something that would make people feel uplifted”.
A striking performer and a classy songwriter with something to say, Aṣa will be back to play the Barbican in April and looks like one to watch.
