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V is the fifth studio album by French-Nigerian singer Aṣa. The album's release was preceded by the singles "Mayana" and "Ocean".
Background and recording
[edit]"V is about the melodies, the texture and where the music takes you. With the world going through a pandemic, there was no need to write another dark song. I wanted some relief. A lot of the songs on V are about trying to get out of down moments."
V comprises ten tracks and has been described as an Afro-infused record.[2] It is Aṣa's first album recorded entirely in Nigeria and first body of work that includes guest acts.[3][1] Aṣa disclosed the album's title and track list during an interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu in December 2021.[4] V features collaborations with The Cavemen, Amaarae, and Wizkid.[5] In an interview with Billboard magazine, Aṣa said that while teaming up with guest acts, she learned to follow her instincts.[2] She told Al Jazeera that she desired a new interpretation of Afrobeats and wanted to explore Afrocentric musical styles.[1] Aṣa called V an introspective album and said she recorded it with "joy, laughter, and tears".[6] She also said the album has a "different vibe" and draws on unexplored aspects of her musical personality that were not present in her earlier records.[6] Aṣa utilized a straightforward approach to writing the album's songs and didn't worry about the lyrics.[1] She gave herself permission to be vulnerable and write without being overly critical or stressed.[1]
Aṣa started recording V after canceling the European leg of her Lucid tour and returning to Lagos during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][6] She invited a group of artists to her studio so they could collaborate and create music.[1] Aṣa revealed to Clash magazine that returning to Lagos was a "coming home experience" for her.[6] She also said recording in her living room was always her dream and that she had the flexibility to write and work at her own pace.[6] P.Priime, who produced nine of the album's ten tracks, was Aṣa's main collaborator on V.[1] He told Al Jazeera that majority of their collaborations started with the instruments.[1] Additionally, he mentioned that both him and Aṣa played the keyboard and guitar, respectively.[1]
Music and lyrics
[edit]Aṣa described "Mayana" as a "cool vibey love song".
She described "Nike" as an "airy and feel-good love song" and said it describes her love interest who promised her the world and made it hard for her to love someone else.
The house track "Believer" includes "claps, synths, and tangoes".[5] Rolling Stone magazine's said the song "finds a stirring balance between serenity and danceability".[5]
"Good Times" honors a capella rhythms, South African music, and the fortitude of COVID survivors.
Critical reception
[edit]V received positive reviews from music critics. Writing for the The Lagos Review, Dami Ajayi considered V to be Aṣa's "most experimental work yet" and commended P.Priime for giving the singer the "much-needed seismic shift to her sound".
Culture Custodian's Michael Aromolaran called V an experimental album and acknowledged Aṣa for stepping outside of her comfort zone and attempting something novel.[7] Conversely, Aromolaran said none of the album's songs "seize the day" and that record is not a "remarkable outing" and "familiar territory" for Aṣa.
Music critic Agwuma Kingsley, whose review was published by newspaper Vanguard, said V primarily dwells on love and "relates more with Nigeria's growing market and evolving soundscape".
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mayana" |
| 2:38 | |
| 2. | "Ocean" |
| P.Priime | 3:10 |
| 3. | "IDG" (featuring Wizkid) |
| P.Priime | 3:07 |
| 4. | "Nike" |
| P.Priime | 2:57 |
| 5. | "Show Me Off" |
| P.Priime | 3:17 |
| 6. | "Morning Man" |
| P.Priime | 2:29 |
| 7. | "Good Times" (featuring The Cavemen) |
| Kingsley Okorie | 3:43 |
| 8. | "Believer" |
| P.Priime | 2:41 |
| 9. | "All I Ever Wanted" (featuring Amaarae) |
| 2:57 | |
| 10. | "Love Me or Give Me Red Wine" |
| 3:42 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wilfred Okiche (23 March 2022). "The reinvention of Aṣa, Nigeria's premier soul music diva". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ a b Darlene Aderoju (February 25, 2022). "Nigerian Star Aṣa Talks Welcoming Wizkid, Amaarae & More First-Time Collaborators On New Album 'V'". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Robert Solomon (March 2, 2022). "Aṣa breathes fresh air with new album, V". PAM Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ "Asa Shares Tracklist & Release Date for New Album "V"". BellaNaija. February 22, 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ a b c Mankaprr Conteh (February 28, 2022). "Let Aṣa's Sweet Strength Make You a 'Believer'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Shahzaib Hussain (January 3, 2022). "PLTFRM: Asa". Clash. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Michael Aromolaran. "Review: With "V" Asa aims for the Contemporary". Culture Custodian. Retrieved 23 March 2025.