Style(s) music(aux) : Music

Nationality : France

Bio:

Asa was born in Paris. she was no more than two years old when her family
returned to live in Nigeria. Paris was just one stage in the life of her parents. But her fate was tied up with the city: it was to Paris that Asa returned twenty years later and where her life as an artist took wing.
Asa grew up in Lagos, “ the New York of Nigeria” as she says.

Asa was the only girl in the family and had to share her parents, not often present, with three
brothers. The little girl grew up to the sounds of artists including Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley,Aretha Franklin, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Lagbaja and went on to draw inspiration from them. She was twelve when her mother sent her to one of the best schools in the country. But educational excellence had a bitter taste: five years of studies and hardship. When she came home, she discovered Erika Badu, D’Angelo, Rafaël Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti and Angélique Kidjo, in whose footprints she dreamt of following.
In 2004 she met her manager, Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who in turn became her musical partner.
And enabled Asa, the free spirit, to find her bearings: songs in English and Yoruba, music falling somewhere between pop and soul, inspired by her musical heritage — with particular care paid to the melodies — and reflecting the feeling she puts into it. Her texts talk about her country, the things in life, the things in her life, all delivered with feigned naivety and real irony.

Asa finally returned to Paris. This was her chance to test out her talent on the French musical scene, playing with artists such as the Nubians, Manu Dibango, Doctor L and Tony Allen. In the meantime, back in Nigeria, her first single, Eyé Adaba, then Jailer, were beginning to get airtime, her popularity was growing and, when she went back, she opened for Akon, John Legend, Beyoncé and Snoop Dogg amongst others.
Asa’s first album is entitled… Asa and features songs such as No one knows, 360, Fire on the mountain that will undoubtedly seduce a broad audience.