Category: New Music
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Somi on African Women in Jazz, Grammy Nomination and Spotify’s EQUAL August Cover
Somi became the first African woman nominated in a Grammy jazz category when her live album Holy Room – Live at Alte Oper received a Best Jazz Vocal Album nomination in 2021. She also became the first Rwandan /Ugandan to receive a Grammy nomination. Now, Spotify has named Somi its EQUAL Africa Artist for August…
The Princes of Afrobeats Are Back
Every generation of Afrobeats eventually reaches a moment when its defining voices remind the world why they earned their place. This week’s edition of Afrobeats Heat Different captures exactly that moment. Every Friday, African music writes another chapter of its own story. Sometimes that chapter belongs to an emerging artist taking their first confident steps…
Ahead of BANGER BOY, CKay’s ‘Love Nwantiti’ Continues to Stand as One of African Music’s Greatest Streaming Success Stories
As CKay prepares to usher in a new chapter with his forthcoming album BANGER BOY, one of the defining records of his career is once again in the spotlight. Producer Tempoe recently shared images of a commemorative Spotify plaque recognizing “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” for surpassing one billion streams on the platform – a…
Davido, Mayorkun & FOLA Lead Music Custodian’s Latest Afrobeats Heat Different as African Music Continues Its Creative Expansion
African music enters August with remarkable confidence. This week’s edition of Afrobeats Heat Different captures a continent moving with intention, where established stars, emerging voices and unexpected collaborations collectively demonstrate the depth and diversity of today’s African sound. More than a collection of new releases, the playlist reflects an ecosystem in constant conversation with itself…
Children of Blood and Bone: How African Music Became the Heartbeat of Hollywood’s Biggest Fantasy Epic
When the first trailer for Children of Blood and Bone arrived, audiences were immediately drawn into the breathtaking adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel. Beyond its striking visuals and star-studded cast, however, another story has quietly emerged – one that speaks to the growing influence of African creatives across global cinema. More than simply…
Davido & NO11 Lead This Week’s Afrobeats Heat Different as Nigerian Music Embraces a New Generation of Collaboration
Every generation of African music eventually reaches a moment where established stars begin creating not simply for their audiences, but alongside the artists who will inherit the future. This week’s edition of Afrobeats Heat Different captures that transition beautifully. Leading the playlist is Davido, whose latest single “Gimme Dat Ting” featuring rising Nigerian artist NO11…
Custodian Conversations : Mich Straaw on Beautiful Hearts, Faith & Finding His Voice
Nigerian singer-songwriter Mich Straaw joins Music Custodian for an intimate conversation exploring creativity, surrender, faith, integrity and the making of Beautiful Hearts. From the Editor Every so often, Music Custodian encounters conversations that resist being reduced to promotional interviews. This was one of them. What began as a discussion around Beautiful Hearts gradually evolved into…
Timaya & Duncan Mighty Lead This Week’s Afrobeats Heat Different as Legacy Meets the Future of African Music
Timaya and Duncan Mighty return with Kontrol, a record that effortlessly bridges nostalgia and contemporary Afropop. Every generation of African music eventually asks the same question: what becomes of the artists who built the sound once a new generation arrives? This week’s edition offers a compelling answer, arriving and anchored by one of Nigerian music’s…
Future Announces THE REAL ME : A New Album Framed Around Growth, Survival and Self-Reflection
For much of the past decade, Future has built one of hip-hop’s most influential catalogues by turning pain, excess, ambition and emotional contradiction into an unmistakable sound. Now, the Atlanta icon appears ready to open another chapter. Across a series of posts shared on Instagram, Future officially began unveiling what appears to be his forthcoming…
Ayra Starr Leads This Week’s Afrobeats Heat Different As African Music Enters Its Next Chapter
Some artists release singles, others announce eras. This week, Ayra Starr does the latter. With the release of Tornado, the Nigerian star returns carrying the weight of expectation that now follows every move she makes. Since emerging as one of the defining voices of her generation, Ayra Starr has evolved from promising newcomer to global…