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‘It’s been a long road to get here’: Adekunle Gold on the rise of Afrobeats in the US
Ahead of his show at Kings Theatre, the singer talks his new album, "Tequila Ever After’' and the Afrobeats movement
Afrobeats — a musical genre which originates from West Africa that combines elements of hip-hop, highlife music, jazz and dancehall — has become increasingly popular in the U.S., especially in Brooklyn, for its infectious energy with vibrant beats and melodies.
In what would have seemed unlikely, if not impossible, just a few years ago, Nigerian artists like Wizkid and Asake are headlining big arena shows as the music can be heard all over the borough.
A huge figure in this movement is Adekunle Gold, who will be headlining a show at Kings Theatre on September 29.
Gold is riding a wave following the release of his star-studded album, “Tequila Ever After” in July. The album, which features contributions from Pharrell, Nile Rodgers and Coco Jones, showcases the Nigerian artist’s ability to evolve and switch his sound whenever he feels like it with smooth vocals and vibrant beats.
Brooklyn Magazine sat down with Adekunle Gold to talk about his upcoming Brooklyn show, the rise of Afrobeats in the U.S. and “Tequila Ever After.”
This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.
Courtesy of Press
What did you want to express with this album?
I just wanted it to be a happy and lighthearted album. The name means happily ever after, but with tequila instead. They are the type of conversations you have with friends over tequila, and that’s what I wanted to express. I wanted an album that’s cohesive but has different vibes.
How did you manage to get a cohesive album with such a wide range of songs?
I didn’t want to overthink anything, I just wanted to make songs. I decided on this album that I was going to write 50 songs and then pick the hottest. We were just making songs in studios with different artists, different writers and different creatives. Everything you listened to we picked based on how it made us feel and how good we thought they were.
You constantly experiment with different beats and styles. Is this a conscious decision to evolve, or is it just natural as you get older and learn more?
It is natural because I’m not the same person that I was in my last two albums. My experiences have changed, I’ve seen more, I’ve been to more places and I’ve experienced new sounds. I want to allow myself to grow. If I want to do something, then I just do it.
Do you feel like you have more freedom to experiment now compared to your previous albums?
Yeah, man, I feel so free. I don’t think many artists have the luxury that I do. People are afraid of change and how it will fall back on their faces, but I’ve never been the type to be afraid to change my sound.
Your songs sound like they are made to be performed live. Is that the intention when you are in the studio?
I am a huge live performer, the greatest showman, so I want the songs to feel like they are live even when people are listening to them. When you come to my shows it’s a different ballgame. I love live music, so there’s live bass, live drums and live guitar in my music. I ask talented musicians to come to the studio and give me what they have!
Afrobeats has taken the U.S. by storm in recent years, especially in Brooklyn where the likes of Asake and Wizkid will be headlining huge shows at the Barclays Center. How do you feel when you see this?
I’m so glad we are talking arenas now. It’s not easy to announce a venue as big as that, not knowing whether people will show up or not. The movement is crazy. Five years ago, I don’t think this would have been happening. A big shoutout to people who are supporting the culture, going out to buy our tickets and merch. It’s been a long road to get here, and I cannot wait to see how far we will take this.
What was the Afrobeats scene like when you first started compared to now?
It’s a marathon, right? When I first started a lot of people called me the “Yoruba singer.” A lot of people didn’t pay me any mind, but because I’m a stubborn person I don’t listen to other people, I’m all about my game and focus on my stuff. God has blessed my effort, and that is how I have gotten here.
I just keep doing what I love. If I like it, I want to do it. I feel like people recognize that, and it has gotten me a lot of new fans. With each new release, I get bigger and I love that steady growth, rather than being a flash in the pan because that wears out easily. It’s been nine years since I stepped onto the scene, and I’ve had a steady growth and I’m grateful for that. I still have a long way to go, but I’m happy to wait it out and keep building this brand and keep sharing the Adekunle Gold supremacy with everybody.
I’ve heard you’re already working on a new album! What can we expect from this?
Music for me never stops because this is one thing that I really enjoy doing. The new album is everything that I stand for. I will talk about everything that I stand for on this album, and they’re going to see a different side of me. That’s all I can say for now.
Any last words?
My show in Brooklyn will be amazing; it is my biggest venue in New York to date. Come get your tickets, come out and support, it is going to be the best thing you’ve ever seen.
