Amaarae
Amaarae | |
---|---|
Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
Origin | Accra, Ghana |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2010–present |
Labels |
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Website | amaaraemusic |
Ama Serwah Genfi (born July 4, 1994), known professionally as Amaarae, is a Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter. She is known for her fusion of pop, R&B, afrobeats, and alté, as well as her fluid representation of gender and sexuality.[1][2] After collaborating with local artists and putting out a few non-album singles, she released her debut EP, Passionfruit Summers,[3] in 2017.
In 2020, Amaarae released her debut album The Angel You Don't Know to critical acclaim. The song "
On June 9, 2023, she released her highly anticipated second album Fountain Baby to rave reviews.
Early life
Amaarae was born in
During high school, she started making mixtapes. By the age of 17, she took up an internship at a music studio. At a tertiary institution, she undertook voice training and honed her songwriting skills while studying English literature. She returned to Ghana in June 2017.[6]
Career
Amaarae released her debut project Passionfruit Summers[3][9][10] in 2017. The album features the song "Fluid", which was complemented by a music video.[11]
Amaarae was named one of
Amaarae has also been acknowledged for her style and fashion sense.
On March 23, 2019, Amaarae was chosen to perform at the first Boiler Room event in Accra alongside La Meme Gang (A Collective comprising Nxwrth, RJZ, KwakuBS, Darkovibes, Kiddblack and $pacely) and rapper Kwesi Arthur.[26][27][28][29]
Amaarae has since collaborated with Stonebwoy, Kojey Radical, M3NSA, Santi, Blaqbonez, Buju, Odunsi, B4bonah.[9] In 2019, she collaborated with the Nigerian singer-songwriter Wande Coal.[30]
On November 12, 2020, Amaarae released her debut studio album,
In May 2022, Amaarae, together with Black Sherif, Stonebwoy and Smallgod met Kendrick Lamar when he visited Ghana and held a private album listening party in Accra for his new album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.[32]
On June 9, 2023, she released her sophomore album Fountain Baby via Interscope Records. The release also came with the news that she'd become the first Ghanaian to appear on NPR Tiny Desk.[33]
Musical style and themes
Amaarae sings in what music critic
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details |
---|---|
The Angel You Don't Know |
|
Fountain Baby |
|
EP
Title | Details |
---|---|
Passionfruit Summers[35] |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [36] |
US Afro. [37] |
CAN [38] |
IRE [39] |
NZ [40] |
SWI [41] |
UK
[42] |
UK Afro. [43] |
WW [44] | ||||
"Spend Some Time" (featuring Wande Coal)[45] |
2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Like It"[46] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Leave Me Alone"[47] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Angel You Don't Know | |
"Fancy"[48] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Sad Girlz Luv Money" (with Moliy featuring Kali Uchis) |
2021 | 80 | — | 48 | 28 | 29 | 18 | 29 | — | 26 | ||
"Reckless & Sweet" | 2023 | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | Fountain Baby | |
"Co-Star" | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | |||
"Wasted Eyes" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Angels in Tibet" | 2024 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — |
As a featured artist
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2017 | "Whoa!" (AYLØ featuring Amaarae) | Insert Project Name |
"On Me" (Dex Kwasi featuring Amaarae) | Non-album single | |
2018 | "Pepper Dem" (Stonebwoy featuring Amaarae) | Epistles of Mama |
"Rapid Fire" (Santi featuring Amaarae) | Mandy & the Jungle | |
"Hectic" (Odunsi featuring Amaarae) | rare. | |
"SDI" (M3NSA featuring Amaarae) | Non-album single | |
2019 | "Platinum Sex" (Mina featuring Amaarae) | Flight Paths |
"Like Water" (Gafacci featuring Amaarae) | Tash BNM | |
"Settle Down" (Santi featuring Amaarae) | Mandy & the Jungle | |
"Shame" (B4bonah featuring Amaarae) | B4Beginning | |
"Sugar" (Kojey Radical featuring Amaarae) | Cashmere Tear | |
"Mewu" (Ground Up Chale featuring Twitch & Amaarae) | We Outside (Y3 Wo Abonten) Vol. 1 | |
"Too Bad" (featuring Show Dem Camp and TEMS) | The Palmwine Express | |
2020 | "Still Dey Inside" (OIEE & M3NSA featuring Amaarae) | Non-album singles |
"Follow My Lead" (FRIDAY NIGHT CRU featuring Tessellated and Amaarae) | ||
"Count On Me" (Blessed featuring Amaarae) | Music Is the Medicine | |
2021 | "Bling" (Blaqbonez featuring Amaarae & Buju) | Sex Over Love |
2023 | "Get It" (Bree Runway featuring Amaarae) | Eat |
"Sossaup" (Kaytraminé featuring Amaarae) | Kaytraminé | |
"KUBOLOR" (ODUMODUBLVCK featuring Amaarae) | EZIOKWU |
Other charted songs
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Afro. [37] | |||
"Princess Going Digital" | 2023 | 12 | Fountain Baby |
Nominations
Year | Event | Category | Recipient/Nominated Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Record of the Year | Amaarae – Fancy | Nominated | [51] |
Best Music Video of the Year | Nominated | ||||
2022 | The Headies Awards | Best West African Artiste of the Year | Amaarae | Nominated | [52] |
References
- ^ "Gay sex is banned – so Ghanaians dance against homophobia". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "The interview we forgot to document – CRTL+ ALT+DEL Amaarae". Harmattan Rain. January 3, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Passionfruit Summers". Genius. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Sad Girlz Luv Money - Amaarae". songfacts.com.
- ^ "Amaarae Dazzles Fans With Much-Anticipated Video For Hit 'SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY'". okayafricasite. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Amaarae". nataal.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "Discover: Amaarae, The Sex-Positive Ghanaian Neo-Soul Star". Konbini. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ "Ghanaian pop star Amaarae: 'I'm presenting black women as deities'". The Guardian. January 1, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ a b "Amaarae". nataal.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "Amaarae's New Music Video for 'Fluid' Is a Beautiful Masterpiece". OkayAfrica. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "I just want people to have sex with my music". Globe Trotter Mag. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ "Amaa Rae releases new song titled 'Fluid'". Ghana Web. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "Amaarae: a refreshing Afro Fusion voice". B&FT Online. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "AMAARAE". BlankPaperz. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ "APPLE MUSIC'S "BEATS 1" STREAMS HOUR-LONG SPECIAL ON AFRICAN MUSIC". Native Mag. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "Amaarae's New Music Video for 'Fluid' Is a Beautiful Masterpiece". OkayAfrica. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "ODUNSI, TENI THE ENTERTAINER, AMAA RAE FOR ART X LIVE! 2018". Native mag. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
- ^ "The variant colours of Amaarae". Pan African Music. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ "#PodcastsOnLive: Amaarae premieres Wande Coal-featured song on Live 91.9 FM". Live FM. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ "4 Women Around the Globe Prove Why the Buzz Cut Is Bold and Beautiful". VOGUE. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ "#Emergers2019: The Bio of the Warrior Princess, Amaarae". Kuulpeeps. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ "FULL LIST OF WINNERS: 2018 Glitz Style Awards [+ event images]". EnewsGh. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Glitz Style Awards: Becca Beats KiDi & Amaarae To Emerge Artiste Of The Year". GH Gossip. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Glitz Awards 2018: Becca flaunts wedding ring in Shatta Michy's face". GH Page. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "Ghana is now". The FADER. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "TRUE MUSIC AFRICA: GHANA". Boiler Room. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ "DJ Mic SMith, Vision DJ, Kwesi Arthur, Amaarae to headline Boiler Room and Ballantine's TRUE MUSIC AFRICA". YFM Ghana. Retrieved February 20, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Boiler Room is coming to Ghana". Music in Africa. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ "DIASPORA DISTINS: ANTONIA ODUNLAMI WITH AMAARAE". Worldwide FM. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ ""Spend Some Time" Amaarae ft. Wande Coal". Notion. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "Amaarae: The Angel You Don't Know". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ "Stonebwoy displeased with reactions to meeting with Kendrick Lamar - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ Citi, Newsroom (June 9, 2023). "Amaarae releases highly-anticipated album 'Fountain Baby'; set to become first Ghanaian to perform on NPR Tiny Desk".
- ^ Christgau, Robert (August 11, 2023). "Consumer Guide: August, 2023". And It Don't Stop. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "Essentials: Amaarae's Debut, 'Passionfruit Summer', Is a Plush Dreamy-Eyed Project". Native Mag. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ a b U.S. Afrobeats peak chart positions for:
- "Reckless & Sweet": "U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. March 23, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "Co-Star": "U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. March 30, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "Angels in Tibet": "U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. January 27, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- "Princess Going Digital": "U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard. February 3, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ "Amaarae & Moliy feat. Kali Uchis – Sad Girls Luv Money Remix". hitparade.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ "Amaaarae featuring Moliy chart history | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ "Amaarae songs and albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History: Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "You Should Really Listen to Amaarae's New Single 'Spend Some Time' Featuring Wande Coal". OkayAfrica. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ "Amaarae explores the unknown in her 'Like It' video". The Fader. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ^ "Leave Me Alone by Amaarae on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "Fancy by Amaarae on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "British certifications – Amaarae". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 14, 2021. Type Amaarae in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Canadian certifications – Amaarae". Music Canada. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ "FULL LIST: Vodafone Ghana Music Awards releases 2021 nominations". CitiNewswroom. April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Headies Awards: Amaarae, Gyakie, KiDi and Nektunez nominated". GhanaWeb. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.