Sadé Awele is sure to make an impression with her heartwarming new offering entitled “Jo.” Mixing infectious and groovy together, the track will be sure to immerse you with its warmly-penned instrumentals, glistening production features and soulful vocals. Awele’s unique and signature sound merges together multiple different urban genres, all penned under one energetic umbrella. Passion-fuelled, irresistible and uplifting, “Jo” will be sure to pick you up and leave you wanting more.
Speaking about the single, she says:
“I chose to release a song called Jo because I wanted to celebrate the sensuality and joy that comes with dancing, especially in Nigerian culture. The word “Jo” means dance in Yoruba, and dancing is an integral part of Nigerian culture. It’s a way of expressing joy, connecting with others, and letting loose. The song is about following your desires and enjoying yourself, as we Nigerians love to do. I wanted to create a track that would make people want to move their bodies and let go of their inhibitions. The lyrics invite listeners to lose themselves in the music and dance until dawn, experiencing the freedom and pleasure that comes with moving to the rhythm. Ultimately, I hope that “Jo” inspires people to let go of their worries and embrace the joy of dancing.”
Sadé Awele is a Nigerian-born, Vancouver-based singer-songwriter who channels her Yoruba and Igbo heritage into her bold, innovative, Afro-R&B sounds. Raised in a home where gospel, R&B, jazz, Afro-fusion and Afrobeats were embraced and drumming was practiced, Awele soaked up lyrics, learned the elements of songwriting, and began incorporating drums into her music.
After her first single in 2018, Count on Me, Awele released a series of critically acclaimed singles and strong audience response. In 2020, Awele was awarded Female Artist of the Year from the African Fashion and Arts Movement (AFAM) and Exclaim! Media named her as an artist that needs to be heard. Shortly after, she released her first EP, Time Love Journey, which earned her over 200,000 streams. Awele was also one of the select few to participate in the Women in the Studio Accelerator Program (Music Publishers Canada), which inspired the production of her upcoming, anticipated EP.
With strong influences from the iconic Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé, and Lauryn Hill, Awele plays with both the familiar and the experimental in revolutionizing the afrobeats and R&B genres and making her a unique rising star on the Canadian music scene.