amaarae
{{Short description|Ghanaian-American singer (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Amaarae
| image = AmaaraeLive (cropped).jpg
| caption = Amaarae performing in 2018
| birth_name = Ama Serwah Genfi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|7|4}}
| birth_place = Bronx, New York, U.S.
| origin = Accra, Ghana
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| genre = {{Flatlist|
}}
| associated_acts = {{Flatlist|
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
- Sad Saints Angry Angels
- Golden Child
- Platoon
- 0207
- Interscope
- Golden Angel
}}
| website = {{URL|amaaraemusic.com}}
}}
Ama Serwah Genfi (born July 4, 1994), formerly known as Petrah and currently known professionally as Amaarae, is an Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter. She is known for her fusion of pop, R&B, afrobeats, and alté, as well as her fluid representation of gender and sexuality.{{Cite web|title=Gay sex is banned – so Ghanaians dance against homophobia|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/africa/2019-12-01-gay-sex-is-banned-so-ghanaians-dance-against-homophobia/|access-date=June 17, 2020|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|date=January 3, 2019|title=The interview we forgot to document – CRTL+ ALT+DEL Amaarae|url=http://harmattanrain.com/amaarae-forgotten-interview/|access-date=June 17, 2020|website=Harmattan Rain|language=en-US}} After collaborating with local artists and putting out a few non-album singles, she released her debut EP, Passionfruit Summers,{{Cite news|title=Passionfruit Summers|work=Genius|url=https://genius.com/Amaarae-passionfruit-summers-lyrics|access-date=November 30, 2017}} in 2017.
In 2020, Amaarae released her debut album The Angel You Don't Know to critical acclaim. The song "Sad Girlz Luv Money" featuring Moliy gained popularity on TikTok.{{Cite web |title=Sad Girlz Luv Money - Amaarae |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/amaarae/sad-girlz-luv-money |access-date= |website=songfacts.com}} In 2021 the song was remixed with a feature from Kali Uchis and charted globally.{{Cite web |title=Amaarae Dazzles Fans With Much-Anticipated Video For Hit 'SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY' |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/amaarae-sad-girlz-music-video/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=okayafricasite |language=en}} Pitchfork labeled the album "Best New Music" and named it the 19th best album of 2020.
On June 9, 2023, she released her highly anticipated second album Fountain Baby to rave reviews.{{Cite web |last=AB |first=Musicboard |title=Musicboard - Share your love for music with friends. |url=https://musicboard.app/artist/13293643/reviews?order_by=-created_at |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=musicboard.app |language=en}}
Early life
Amaarae was born in the Bronx, New York to Ama Bawuah and Kwadwo Boateng Genfi and was raised between Atlanta, United States and Accra, Ghana.{{Cite web |title=Amaarae |url=https://nataal.com/amaarae |access-date=June 17, 2020 |website=nataal.com |language=en-US}} She is the eldest of two children. Amaarae wrote her first song at the age of 13.{{Cite news|url=https://www.konbini.com/ng/entertainment/discover-amaarae-sex-positve-neo-soul-star/|title=Discover: Amaarae, The Sex-Positive Ghanaian Neo-Soul Star|work=Konbini|access-date=October 4, 2018|archive-date=October 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027025846/https://www.konbini.com/ng/entertainment/discover-amaarae-sex-positve-neo-soul-star/|url-status=dead}} During her teenage years, she enjoyed watching music videos and said that one of her most vivid memories was watching the music video for the Kelis song "Young, Fresh n' New". She recalls Kelis' unique expression being an inspiration for her.{{Cite web|date=January 1, 2021|title=Ghanaian pop star Amaarae: 'I'm presenting black women as deities'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/01/ghanaian-pop-star-amaarae-im-presenting-black-women-as-deities|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}
During high school, she started making mixtapes. By the age of 17, she took up an internship at a music studio. At a tertiary institution, she undertook voice training and honed her songwriting skills while studying English literature. She returned to Ghana in June 2017.
Career
Amaarae released her debut project Passionfruit Summers{{Cite web|title=Amaarae|url=https://nataal.com/amaarae|access-date=June 17, 2020|website=nataal.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=June 12, 2018|title=Amaarae's New Music Video for 'Fluid' Is a Beautiful Masterpiece|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/amaarae-fluid-video-ghana/|access-date=June 17, 2020|website=OkayAfrica|language=en}} in 2017. The album features the song "Fluid", which was complemented by a music video.{{Cite news|title=I just want people to have sex with my music.|work=Globe Trotter Mag|url=https://www.globetrottermag.com/news-features/amaraee-fluid|access-date=July 9, 2019}}
Amaarae was named one of Apple Music Africa's Favourite New Artists in April 2018{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Amaa-Rae-releases-new-song-titled-Fluid-658954|title=Amaa Rae releases new song titled 'Fluid'|work=Ghana Web|access-date=June 10, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://thebftonline.com/2018/lifestylesports/amaarae-a-refreshing-afro-fusion-voice/|title=Amaarae: a refreshing Afro Fusion voice|work=B&FT Online|access-date=June 16, 2018|archive-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028052620/https://thebftonline.com/2018/lifestylesports/amaarae-a-refreshing-afro-fusion-voice/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.blankpaperz.com/amaarae/|title=AMAARAE|work=BlankPaperz|access-date=May 11, 2019}} and later that year became an Apple Music Beats 1 featured artist{{Cite news|url=https://thenativemag.com/music/apple-musics-african-music-playlist-special-highlights|title=APPLE MUSIC'S "BEATS 1" STREAMS HOUR-LONG SPECIAL ON AFRICAN MUSIC|work=Native Mag|access-date=December 14, 2018}} for her debut project Passionfruit Summers which she released through her independent record label, Golden Child LLC on November 30, 2017.{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Amaarae's New Music Video for 'Fluid' Is a Beautiful Masterpiece |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/amaarae-fluid-video-ghana/ |access-date=June 17, 2020 |website=OkayAfrica |language=en}} In November 2018 she performed with Teni, BOJ and Odunsi (The Engine) at ART X Lagos, an art fair in Lagos, Nigeria.{{Cite news|url=https://thenativemag.com/communities/artx-live|title=ODUNSI, TENI THE ENTERTAINER, AMAA RAE FOR ART X LIVE! 2018|work=Native mag|access-date=October 26, 2018}}
Amaarae has also been acknowledged for her style and fashion sense.{{Cite news|url=http://pan-african-music.com/en/the-variant-colours-of-amaarae|title=The variant colours of Amaarae|work=Pan African Music|access-date=October 22, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=http://livefmghana.com/2019/05/21/podcastsonlive-amaarae-premieres-wande-coal-featured-song-on-live-91-9-fm/|title=#PodcastsOnLive: Amaarae premieres Wande Coal-featured song on Live 91.9 FM|work=Live FM|access-date=May 21, 2019}} In 2018, she was featured in Vogue online in an article on four women across the globe with buzz haircuts{{Cite news|url=https://www.vogue.com/vogueworld/article/vogue-100-beauty-women-shaved-heads-buzz-cuts-amaarae-andrea-valle|title=4 Women Around the Globe Prove Why the Buzz Cut Is Bold and Beautiful|work=VOGUE|access-date=September 5, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://kuulpeeps.com/2019/01/emergers2019-the-bio-of-the-warrior-princess-amaarae/|title=#Emergers2019: The Bio of the Warrior Princess, Amaarae|work=Kuulpeeps|access-date=October 23, 2019}} and was mentioned as one of Vogue online's Top 100 Style Influencers of 2018. She was nominated as Artist of the Year at the Glitz Style Awards in Ghana.{{Cite news|url=https://enewsgh.com/2018/09/03/full-list-of-winners-2018-glitz-style-awards-event-images/|title=FULL LIST OF WINNERS: 2018 Glitz Style Awards [+ event images]|work=EnewsGh|access-date=September 3, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghgossip.com/2018-glitz-style-awards-becca-beats-kidi-amaarae-to-emerge-artiste-of-the-year/|title=2018 Glitz Style Awards: Becca Beats KiDi & Amaarae To Emerge Artiste Of The Year|work=GH Gossip|access-date=September 2, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghpage.com/glitz-awards-2018-becca-flaunts-wedding-ring-shatta-michy-face/61334/|title=Glitz Awards 2018: Becca flaunts wedding ring in Shatta Michy's face|work=GH Page|access-date=September 2, 2018}} She has also patronized Ghanaian fashion brand Free The Youth.{{Cite web |title=Ghana is now |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/12/04/ghana-scene-profile-darovibes-amaarae-joey-lit |access-date=June 17, 2020 |website=The FADER |language=en}}
On March 23, 2019, Amaarae was chosen to perform at the first Boiler Room event in Accra alongside La Meme Gang (A Collective comprising Nxwrth, RJZ, KwakuBS, Darkovibes, Kiddblack and $pacely) and rapper Kwesi Arthur.{{Cite news|title=TRUE MUSIC AFRICA: GHANA|work=Boiler Room|url=https://boilerroom.tv/session/true-music-africa-ghana|access-date=March 3, 2019}}{{Cite news|title=DJ Mic SMith, Vision DJ, Kwesi Arthur, Amaarae to headline Boiler Room and Ballantine's TRUE MUSIC AFRICA|work=YFM Ghana|url=https://yfmghana.com/dj-mic-smith-vision-dj-kwesi-arthur-amaarae-to-headline-boiler-room-and-ballantines-true-music-africa/|access-date=February 20, 2019}}{{Cite news|title=Boiler Room is coming to Ghana|work=Music in Africa|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/boiler-room-coming-ghana|access-date=February 21, 2019}}{{Cite news|title=DIASPORA DISTINS: ANTONIA ODUNLAMI WITH AMAARAE|work=Worldwide FM|url=https://worldwidefm.net/show/diaspora-distins-antonia-odunlami-with-amaarae/|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=October 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028052503/https://worldwidefm.net/show/diaspora-distins-antonia-odunlami-with-amaarae/|url-status=dead}}
Amaarae has since collaborated with Stonebwoy, Kojey Radical, M3NSA, Santi, Blaqbonez, Buju, Odunsi, B4bonah. In 2019, she collaborated with the Nigerian singer-songwriter Wande Coal.{{Cite web|date=May 22, 2019|title="Spend Some Time" Amaarae ft. Wande Coal|url=https://notion.online/spend-some-time-amaarae-ft-wande-coal/|access-date=June 17, 2020|website=Notion|language=en-GB}}
On November 12, 2020, Amaarae released her debut studio album, The Angel You Don't Know. Owen Myers of Pitchfork wrote that it "crackles with innovation, a pacesetter at a time when industry bigwigs are waking up to the long-held truth that Africa is setting the global tempo for pop music."{{Cite web|title=Amaarae: The Angel You Don't Know|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/amaarae-the-angel-you-dont-know/|access-date=November 23, 2020|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}
In May 2022, Amaarae, together with Black Sherif, Stonebwoy and Smallgod met Kendrick Lamar when he visited Ghana and held a private album listening party in Accra for his new album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=Stonebwoy displeased with reactions to meeting with Kendrick Lamar - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/stonebwoy-displeased-with-reactions-to-meeting-with-kendrick-lamar/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}
On June 9, 2023, she released her sophomore album Fountain Baby via Interscope Records. The release also came with the news that she'd become the first Ghanaian to appear on NPR Tiny Desk.{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Amaarae releases highly-anticipated album 'Fountain Baby'; set to become first Ghanaian to perform on NPR Tiny Desk |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2023/06/amaarae-releases-highly-anticipated-album-fountain-baby-set-to-become-first-ghanaian-to-perform-on-npr-tiny-desk/}}
On April 14, 2025, Amaarae made history as the first Ghanaian artist to perform a solo set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Her performance on the Gobi Stage featured unreleased tracks and songs by Ghanaian artists such as La Même Gang, Eazzy, Joey B, and the Asakaa Boys. During the set, she announced her upcoming album Black Star and notably shaved her head on stage, a move that garnered significant attention on social media.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-14 |title=Amaarae takes the stage for history-making Coachella performance |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/amaarae-songs-coachella-ghana-b2732659.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |
| scope="row"| The Angel You Don't Know
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Fountain Baby
|
|
= EP =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of EPs, with selected details ! Title ! Details |
| scope="row"| Passionfruit Summers{{Cite news|url=https://thenativemag.com/music/essentials-amaaraes-debut-project-passionfruit-summer-smoked-dreamy-romantic/|title=Essentials: Amaarae's Debut, 'Passionfruit Summer', Is a Plush Dreamy-Eyed Project|work=Native Mag|access-date=December 4, 2017}}
|
|
|---|
= Singles =
= As a featured artist =
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2017 | "Whoa!" (AYLØ featuring Amaarae) | Insert Project Name |
| "On Me" (Dex Kwasi featuring Amaarae) | {{N/A|Non-album single}} | |
| rowspan="4" | 2018 | "Pepper Dem" (Stonebwoy featuring Amaarae) | Epistles of Mama |
| "Rapid Fire" (Santi featuring Amaarae) | Mandy & the Jungle | |
| "Hectic" (Odunsi featuring Amaarae) | rare. | |
| "SDI" (M3NSA featuring Amaarae) | {{N/A|Non-album single}} | |
| rowspan="7" | 2019 | "Platinum Sex" (Mina featuring Amaarae) | Flight Paths |
| "Like Water" (Gafacci featuring Amaarae) | Tash BNM | |
| "Settle Down" (Santi featuring Amaarae) | Mandy & the Jungle | |
| "Shame" (B4bonah featuring Amaarae) | B4Beginning | |
| "Sugar" (Kojey Radical featuring Amaarae) | Cashmere Tear | |
| "Mewu" (Ground Up Chale featuring Twitch & Amaarae) | We Outside (Y3 Wo Abonten) Vol. 1 | |
| "Too Bad" (featuring Show Dem Camp and TEMS) | The Palmwine Express | |
| rowspan="3" | 2020 | "Still Dey Inside" (OIEE & M3NSA featuring Amaarae) | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
| "Follow My Lead" (FRIDAY NIGHT CRU featuring Tessellated and Amaarae) | ||
| "Count On Me" (Blessed featuring Amaarae) | Music Is the Medicine | |
| 2021 | "Bling" (Blaqbonez featuring Amaarae & Buju) | Sex Over Love |
| rowspan="3" | 2023 | "Sossaup" (Kaytraminé featuring Amaarae) | Kaytraminé |
| "The Rush" (Janelle Monáe featuring Nia Long & Amaarae) | The Age of Pleasure | |
| "KUBOLOR" (ODUMODUBLVCK featuring Amaarae)
|EZIOKWU | ||
| 2024
|"In The Night" (Childish Gambino featuring Jorja Smith & Amaarae) |
=Other charted songs=
Nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Event !Category !Recipient/Nominated Work !Result !Ref |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| rowspan="2" | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards |Record of the Year | rowspan="2" | Amaarae – Fancy |{{nom}} |
| Best Music Video of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| 2022
|The Headies Awards |Best West African Artiste of the Year |Amaarae |{{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://amaaraemusic.com/ Official website]
{{authority control}}
Category:21st-century Ghanaian women singers
Category:Ghanaian record producers