Asa’s ‘ODO’- A Soulful Return To The Essence Of Love
You are likely familiar with the name Asa. You have almost certainly heard the artist’s songs. So you must understand that I refer to her as a music legend, not out of sentiment but as a result of her feats over the years and her part in sharing Afro music with the world.
The Nigerian-French singer’s longevity can easily be attributed to her style of music that transcends age and time, catering to the music preferences of young and old for years on end without becoming obsolete. Her music is so unbound by time that, even younger generations and certainly, those yet unborn would, on encountering it, still appreciate the essence of her art with utmost sincerity and zest.
Her style, a blend of Afrobeat, Pop, and Indie Pop enriched with the Yoruba language, essentially carved out a whole niche, especially for her.
Then there’s her ability to tell stories in a poetic and philosophical manner that challenges her listeners to ponder deeply and defy the status quo, while experiencing and expressing love in its entirety. What’s more, Asa passes her message across in a beautiful voice that even the singing birds would envy for its depth and texture.
The proof is in the eating of the pudding and as such, you must eat it to understand.
Asa embarked on her musical journey in 2006 with the release of her debut song, ‘Eyé Adaba,’ and the simplicity and clarity of the song’s message captured hearts instantly. The following year, she released her debut album ‘Aṣa (Asha),’ and with this, she gained renown, with her name and music spreading like wildfire across Africa, Asia, and Europe. This album won her the French Constantin Award in 2008 when she was voted the best fresh talent of the year.
Her second album, ‘Beautiful Imperfection,’ a collaborative project with French composer Nicolas Mollard, was released in 2010, and this album was so successful that it achieved platinum status the following year.
In 2014, Asa released her third studio album, ‘Bed of Stone,’ and like the two before it, it was a huge success, producing hit tracks that would permeate Nigerian households for years to come.
In 2019, a fourth album which went by the name ‘Lucid’ was released and by 2022 her fifth and latest album, simply titled ‘V,’ was released featuring Wizkid, The Cavemen, and Amaarae. Like the previous works, ‘Lucid’ and ‘V’ embodied the very essence of her creativity and certainly produced tracks that exhibited that perfectly.
Fast forward to 2024, Asa’s first song in two years, titled ‘ODO,’ was released on February 1st, and as a primarily album-releasing artist, this new single hints at something amazing in the making. ‘ODO’ is a soulful expression of unbridled affection, unburdened by strife and unaffected by time’s passing. Asa’s passion-conveying voice and simply worded lyrics accompanied by the gentle strum of the guitar effortlessly reach the core of your being.
Be wary though, the song, a pure expression of love at its finest, might just make you fall in love too. It is the season after all, and love’s fumes linger heavily in the air.
