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Ghanaian genre-bender Amaarae has delivered her most ambitious project yet with BLACK STAR, a dizzying pop fantasia that flips the script. Following the critical acclaim of 2023's Fountain Baby, the third studio album finds Amaarae in a completely different headspace, more confident, more playful, and ready to push boundaries even further.
Black Star takes a more playful approach, drawing inspiration from Ghanaian roots while embracing global pop sensibilities. Unlike the more serious tone of Fountain Baby, BLACK STAR sees the singer having more fun, and this joy is infectious throughout the album's 44-minute runtime.
The production, helmed by Amaarae alongside longtime collaborator Kyu Steed, showcases an artist unafraid to experiment. The pair travelled to Brazil to work with baile funk producers, resulting in a sound that seamlessly blends Afrobeats, hyperpop, and electronic elements with unexpected flourishes of Brazilian funk and highlife influences.
BLACK STAR boasts one of the year's most eclectic feature lineups. The project features a star-studded lineup that blends pop, R&B, electronic, and experimental vibes, including UK hyperpop darling PinkPantheress, British rapper Bree Runway, and R&B legend Charlie Wilson.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Naomi Campbell, the supermodel and cultural icon, is listed among the collaborators, marking an unexpected crossover between fashion and music that perfectly embodies the album's genre-defying spirit.
Amaarae described the album as a "genesis of me feeling sure and confident", and this newfound assurance permeates every track. The album, featuring 13 tracks, is a celebration of her journey toward self-confidence and artistic integrity, embracing themes of identity, empowerment, and cultural heritage.
The lead single S.M.O. exemplifies this approach, drawing inspiration from Ghanaian highlife while maintaining Amaarae's futuristic pop sensibilities. It's a perfect introduction to an album that not only honours her roots but also challenges the conventions of contemporary music.
BLACK STAR represents Amaarae at her most liberated and creative. Her soft yet commanding vocals glide effortlessly across lush sounds, while the features bring an unexpected edge that keeps listeners on their toes. This is an album that rewards repeated listening, revealing new layers of complexity with each spin.
For an artist who has always existed between worlds, Ghanaian and American, traditional and futuristic, pop and experimental, BLACK STAR feels like the moment where all these influences finally coalesce into something uniquely her own. It's a bold declaration of artistic independence and a thrilling glimpse into the future of global pop music.
Listen to BLACK STAR here.
The post Amaarae is a proud 'BLACK STAR' her latest album appeared first on NotjustOk.
