Born in Nigeria and raised in Peckham, it’s no surprise that Aadae’s music is as multi-faceted as her life has been. Growing up in a strict Nigerian-Christian family, the young singer was able to explore her father’s record collection – spanning reggae, 70s Afrobeat, Yoruba gospel and the odd ABBA single – in between church sermons. Her mother encouraged extra-curricular singing sessions with her brother and sister because. as Aadae wryly ruminates, “In her mind I think it acted as a distraction from gangs, gun and drug culture.”
‘River Of Tears’ – a debut single, no less, although it sounds much more strident and assured than that – is an ode to strength that seamlessly patches together the synthetic and organic to create a unique, thrilling and very much future-facing sound. ‘I will never drown in a river of tears”, lilts the south Londoner with a masterful sass reminiscent of Beyoncé at her most empowering while Fela Kuti-esque beats jive and slink around bouncing marimba and steel drum. A vibrant, shimmering nu-Afrobeat arrangement springs and flits around the ether while a delicious ‘mmm-mmm‘ vocal refrain floats across the soundscape like a sunrise in absolutely hypnotic fashion. Echoes of M.I.A. and Santigold abound in the mix in addition and all add to the sheer jubilance of the piece.
“The song is a declaration that celebrates strength“, says Aadae, “I guess it’s the ultimate pep talk that encourages you to stand defiantly in your own truth – and dance away your fears.”
Debut singles really don’t get much better than this.
