Asa – Asa
Asa – Asa
By Chris Peken
Asa has a wonderful back story. Born in Paris, she returned to native Nigeria at the age of two, with her parents. Often she did much of the raising of her three brothers, immersing herself in song while doing the household chores. Leaving home for boarding school at 12 she continued to delve into the world of Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Angelique Kidjo and co. This eponymous debut features a blend of those influences, a soulful Afro-pop based around some nice acoustic guitar work which will appeal to many (imagine Tracey Chapman grown up in Nigeria). The results however are mixed. Certainly Asa is least successful when over-produced, the occasional use of a drum machine is totally at odds with the feel Asa is seeking, and her social commentary reflects her middle-class upbringing rather than any real suffering: “You don’t have to climb / The highest mountain / For all you’re looking for/ Is within you.” But when stripped back and carried by her soulful voice Asa gives a peak at what she might do, and Eye Adaba sung in her native tongue is the album’s most compelling moment.
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