Amaarae

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Amaarae
AmaaraeLive.jpg
Background information
Birth nameAma Serwah Genfi
Born (1994-07-04) July 4, 1994 (age 27)
New York, United States
OriginAccra, Ghana
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2010–present
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
  • Golden Child LLC (current)
Associated acts
Websiteamaaraemusic.com

Ama Serwah Genfi (born July 4, 1994), known professionally as Amaarae, is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and engineer known for her work around representation of gender and race in music.[1][2][3] After collaborating with local artists and putting out a few non-album singles, she released her debut 6 track EP, Passionfruit Summers[4][5][6] in 2017.

In 2020 Amaarae released the song "Sad Girlz Luv Money" featuring Moliy on her debut album The Angel You Don't Know. In 2021 the song was remixed with a feature from Kali Uchis which then went on to become a viral hit on social media and streaming platforms, charting globally.

Early life[]

Genfi was born on July 4, 1994, in New York and raised between Atlanta and Accra[5] to Ghanaian parents Ama Bawuah and Kwadwo Boateng Genfi. She is the eldest of two children. Amaarae began to experiment with music at the age of 13, when she wrote her first song.[7] During her teenage years, she began to enjoy watching music videos. She recalls one of her most vivid memories being watching the music video for the Kelis song Young, Fresh n' New. She recalls Kelis' unique expression being an inspiration for her own expression later.[8]

During high school she started making mixtapes and by 17, she took up an internship at a music studio. At university, she undertook voice training and honed her songwriting skills while studying English literature and in June 2017 she returned to Ghana.[5]

Career[]

Having collaborated with artists like AYLØ, Kay-Ara, Yaw P, Amaarae released her debut project Passionfruit Summers[9][10][11] in 2017. The album features the standout song, "Fluid", which was complemented by a critically acclaimed music video.[12]

Recognized both locally and internationally, she was named one of Apple Music Africa's Favourite New Artist in April 2018[5][13][14][15] and later that year became an Apple Music Beats 1 featured artist[16] for her debut project Passionfruit Summers which she released through her independent record label, Golden Child LLC on November 30, 2017.[6] She performed with Teni, Boj of DRB LasGidi and Odunsi at ART X Lagos, an art fair in Lagos, Nigeria on November 3, 2018.[17]

Amaarae has also been acknowledged for her style and fashion sense.[18][19] In 2018, she was featured in Vogue Magazine online in an article on 4 women across the globe with buzz haircuts[20][21] and snagged a mention as one of Vogue online's Top 100 Style Influencers of 2018, in addition to being nominated as Artist of the Year at the Glitz Style Awards in Ghana.[22][23][24] She has also patronized Ghanaian fashion brand Free The Youth.[2]

On March 23, 2019, Amaarae became one of the acts chosen to perform at the first-ever Boiler Room event to happen in Accra, Ghana alongside La Meme Gang (A Collective comprising Nxwrth, RJZ, KwakuBS, Darkovibes, Kiddblack and $pacely) and Award Winning Rapper Kwesi Arthur.[25][26][27][28]

Amaarae has since added Stonebwoy, Kojey Radical, M3NSA, Santi, Blaqbonez, Buju, Odunsi, B4bonah and very recently, in 2019, the Nigerian Singer-songwriter Wande Coal[29] to the list of artists she has worked with.[10]

On November 12, 2020, Amaarae released her debut studio album, The Angel You Don't Know. Owen Myers of Pitchfork stated, "The Angel You Don't Know crackles with innovation, a pacesetter at a time when industry bigwigs are waking up to the long-held truth that Africa is setting the global tempo for pop music."[30]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Details
The Angel You Don't Know
  • Released: November 12, 2020
  • Label: Golden Child Entertainment

EP[]

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Passionfruit Summers[31]
  • Released: November 30, 2017
  • Label: Golden Child
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles[]

List of singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[32] 		CAN
[33] 		IRE
[34] 		NLD
[35] 		NZ
[36] 		SWE
Heat.
[37] 		SWI
[38] 		UK
[39] 		WW
[40]
"Spend Some Time"
(featuring Wande Coal)[41] 		2019 — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Like It"[42] — — — — — — — — —
"Leave Me Alone"[43] 2020 — — — — — — — — — The Angel You Don't Know
"Fancy"[44] — — — — — — — — —
"Sad Girlz Luv Money"
(with Moliy featuring Kali Uchis) 		2021 80 48 28 55 29 11 18 29 26

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 Tears
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)
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

Nominations[]

Year Event Category Recipient/Nominated Work Result Ref
2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Record of the Year Amaarae – Fancy Nominated [45]
Best Music Video of the Year Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ "Gay sex is banned - so Ghanaians dance against homophobia". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Ghana is now". The FADER. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "The interview we forgot to document - CRTL+ ALT+DEL Amaarae". Harmattan Rain. January 3, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Passionfruit Summers". Genius. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d "Amaarae". nataal.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Amaarae's New Music Video for 'Fluid' Is a Beautiful Masterpiece". OkayAfrica. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  7. ^ "Discover: Amaarae, The Sex-Positive Ghanaian Neo-Soul Star". Konbini. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  8. ^ "Ghanaian pop star Amaarae: 'I'm presenting black women as deities'". The Guardian. January 1, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Passionfruit Summers". Genius. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Amaarae". nataal.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  11. ^ "Amaarae's New Music Video for 'Fluid' Is a Beautiful Masterpiece". OkayAfrica. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "I just want people to have sex with my music". Globe Trotter Mag. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "Amaa Rae releases new song titled 'Fluid'". Ghana Web. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Amaarae: a refreshing Afro Fusion voice". B&FT Online. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "AMAARAE". BlankPaperz. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  16. ^ "APPLE MUSIC'S "BEATS 1" STREAMS HOUR-LONG SPECIAL ON AFRICAN MUSIC". Native Mag. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  17. ^ "ODUNSI, TENI THE ENTERTAINER, AMAA RAE FOR ART X LIVE! 2018". Native mag. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "The variant colours of Amaarae". Pan African Music. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  19. ^ "#PodcastsOnLive: Amaarae premieres Wande Coal-featured song on Live 91.9 FM". Live FM. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  20. ^ "4 Women Around the Globe Prove Why the Buzz Cut Is Bold and Beautiful". VOGUE. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "#Emergers2019: The Bio of the Warrior Princess, Amaarae". Kuulpeeps. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  22. ^ "FULL LIST OF WINNERS: 2018 Glitz Style Awards [+ event images]". EnewsGh. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "2018 Glitz Style Awards: Becca Beats KiDi & Amaarae To Emerge Artiste Of The Year". GH Gossip. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  24. ^ "Glitz Awards 2018: Becca flaunts wedding ring in Shatta Michy's face". GH Page. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  25. ^ "TRUE MUSIC AFRICA: GHANA". Boiler Room. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  26. ^ "DJ Mic SMith, Vision DJ, Kwesi Arthur, Amaarae to headline Boiler Room and Ballantine's TRUE MUSIC AFRICA". YFM Ghana. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  27. ^ "Boiler Room is coming to Ghana". Music in Africa. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  28. ^ "DIASPORA DISTINS: ANTONIA ODUNLAMI WITH AMAARAE". Worldwide FM. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  29. ^ ""Spend Some Time" Amaarae ft. Wande Coal". Notion. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  30. ^ "Amaarae: The Angel You Don't Know". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  31. ^ "Essentials: Amaarae's Debut, 'Passionfruit Summer', Is a Plush Dreamy-Eyed Project". Native Mag. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  32. ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  33. ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  34. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  35. ^ "Amaarae & Moliy feat. Kali Uchis – Sad Girlz Luv Money Remix". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  36. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  37. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 45". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  38. ^ "Amaarae & Moliy feat. Kali Uchis – Sad Girls Luv Money Remix". hitparade.ch (in Chamorro). Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "Amaaarae featuring Moliy chart history | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  40. ^ "Kali Uchis Chart History: Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  41. ^ "You Should Really Listen to Amaarae's New Single 'Spend Some Time' Featuring Wande Coal". OkayAfrica. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  42. ^ "Amaarae explores the unknown in her 'Like It' video". The Fader. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  43. ^ "Leave Me Alone by Amaarae on Amazon Music". Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  44. ^ "Fancy by Amaarae on Amazon Music". Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  45. ^ "FULL LIST: Vodafone Ghana Music Awards releases 2021 nominations". CitiNewswroom. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links[]

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