Ashawo Shows Love Songs Can Be Quirky and Fun

Love songs can come in different forms. Some are sweetly strung serenades, while others can take the bubbly route. Depictions of love in music means different things within different soundscapes, and the Afrobeats perspective of love is usually something along the lines of quirky but sincere. The best part about the bubbly soundscape of Afrobeats is that we can fit all our subject matters within it, while keeping things upbeat and enthusiastic. Multi-talented producer, Iferin, knows all about the secrets of creating an Afrobeats record.

Born Ifeoluwa Abodunrin-Oni, the producer/songwriter has tapped into several shades of Afrobeats in the past, ranging from guitar-led love songs to upbeat bangers. Iferin’s experience has given her the tools to diversify her approach, going with an uptempo vibe for Ashawo. On this song, she worked with Emperornil, one of her collaborators with whom she has created magic in the past. The obvious synergy between the pair is evident once the song comes on, and as we know, good synergy is the secret ingredient that binds a producer and an artist together. For Ashawo, they picked up where they left off.

Iferin lends her pen to Emperornil for this song. They found success on one of their previous collaborations with the song “Unilag”, where they took the storytelling approach for the composition of the words. On this, however, the song is written to depict the yearning passion that Emperornil directs towards his love interest. The words are straightforward, and the structure of the lyrics are not convoluted. This is one of the techniques that Iferin employs when putting songs together. Catchy songs are usually written in simple form, and Ashawo passes the test for good replay value. It all comes down to the way the melodies fit into the instrumental.

The production for Ashawo is drum-heavy. Iferin lays the foundation with a drum kit that other elements revolve around, while being emphasised by the intense log drums that serve as an alternative to a traditional thumb drum or the more popular 808s. This makes Ashawo a full Afrobeats record in its purest form. With its uptempo energy, the song is crafted to bring life to a room, and it will find home in many environments, especially an energetic party. At 118BPM, Ashawo invites you to rock the dance floor with reckless abandon with your friends and love interests. Iferin’s broad perspective on what an Afrobeats love song can sound like plays a part in the way the record is set up.

Iferin’s talent speaks volumes of the possibilities that are hidden within Afrobeats. Crafting the lyrics and sonics of this record to this level is testament to her unwavering dedication to crack more codes within the genre. Her skill positions her as a trailblazer, not only for the genre but also other women who aspire to this level of expertise and work ethic. It remains to be seen how her career would unfold in the coming years, but she is certainly on the right track to create a musical legacy for herself.