Asa, the new voice of Afro-folk

A young Nigerian singer by the name of Asa (pronounced Asha) is currently causing a stir with a debut eponymous album released on the French label Naïve. Asa’s subtle mix of soul, folk and pop, cleverly interwoven with her African roots, has already evoked comparisons with Tracy Chapman and Ayo.

Check out "Jailer" performed by Asa

At the beginning of 2007, the young singer went into the studio and spent six weeks recording with Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo,a blind multi-instrumentalist she has worked with for three years now. Her debut 11-track album is simply called Asa, "because all the songs on it are pieces of the puzzle that make up my personality." Featuring impeccable percussion, a funky Hammond organ, reggae-infused bass and contributions from celebrity flautist Magic Malik, Asa’s debut album contains two stand-out tracks: Jailer, a song about "the irony of oppression, not just political or racial oppression, but the kind that operates in everyday life" and Fire In The Mountain - a melody which has every bit as much chart-topping potential as anything by her Afro-folk sister Ayo!