The Paris-born Nigerian musician’s latest album is a fresh and modern offering carried by a colourful merging of genres.
Asa opens V up with a quintessential Afrobeats vibe on the first single, “Mayana”, which sounds like a breezy late-night rendezvous between lovers as she repeatedly croons: “nothing but our love.” The over-arching theme of her fifth album is a colourful love with a tinge of caution, naturally. V is certainly a more experimental project from Asa, tying in elements of pop, neo-soul, and R&B.
Released as the second single, “Ocean” continues the story of this deep admiration Asa has for her partner, likening him to an ocean and declaring there is nothing she wouldn’t do for him. She further showers her lover with compliments, comparing him to a “beautiful sunrise in the morning” on “Show Me Off.” Asa is smitten and can barely hold it in on “Morning Man.”
On “IDG”, Asa takes an airier yet smokey direction with her voice that does not stray too far from her usual chesty and punchier delivery. However, it deviates enough to showcase a softer side of her vocal capabilities. Her fans are in for a treat as the long-awaited Wizkid collaboration has finally materialized, and, in true Star Boy fashion, he glides on the song with ease, equipped with his signature melody.
“Good Times” is an ode to friendship and carries the message through the distinctly Southern African instrumental and assistance from The Cavemen that mirrors Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Its nostalgic lyrics evoke a sense of longing for the softness of platonic companionship, a space free of judgment and full of simple love.
Asa polarizes the theme of heartbreak on “Nike” with the irresistible urge to try love once again on “Believer”, which is a realistic pipeline given how fickle romantic love and emotions are. On “All I Ever Wanted”, she dips her toe in risqué waters with a pop-heavy feature with Amaraae, whose verse comes in as a shocker because the pair sound eerily similar. Yet, the language usage and approach to the topic at hand create a clear distinction between the two.
She closes out the 10-track LP with a groovy declaration of knowing one’s worth on “Love Me or Give Me Red Wine.” It’s an assertive anthem that validates anyone who wants and seeks love yet refuses to let it consume them and their independence.
The project is a well-thought-out body of work that takes the listener on a journey through the ebb and flow of love in its various shapes and capacities. Asa certainly stepped outside of her comfort zone to give us this offering yet stayed true to her vocal opulence. It is a perfect pick for an easy listen or a special occasion.
