North-West London’s Kwaku Asante releases the sticky-sweet number ‘molasses’, ahead of his debut six-track project ‘honeycomb’. Opening with funk-filled guitar rhythms and rippling melodies, the artist’s vocals are richly decadent, oozing into every crack and fissure of the tracks’ surface. A storyteller at heart, Kwaku draws inspiration from neo-soul, R&B and hip hop culture to curate a rich tapestry of sounds in order to vividly narrate his journey of self-discovery.
Of the track, Kwaku explains that it revolves around “a girl who has the same characters as molasses, someone who is dark/brown and sweet. Although molasses are not stereotypically used to hold things together, its properties are sticky and this girl held me together in times of doubting myself”. The artists love for music was sparked at an early age, growing up in a household filled with rich gospel and jazz inflections. Playing piano and singing in a choir as a child, Kwaku began to record demos in his university bedroom before releasing his debut single ‘The Way That You Move’ in July 2018 – co-produced by Tom Misch and Jan.
Already boasting collaborations with the likes of Louis Mttrs and Dan Holloway, the artist also has an impressive live presence, opening for Jay Prince and Lola Kirke on their London headline shows before being invited to support US singer and producer Amber Mark on her recent European tour. With the imminent release of his debut project ‘honeycomb’ and previous support from Complex, The Line Of Best Fit, Afropunk and Radio 1 Xtra’s Jamz Supernova, Kwaku’s intimate narratives are a statement of artistic intent. Kwaku Asante’s debut headline show at London’s Omeara on 18th October sold out six weeks in advance.
Kwaku Asante: Molasses
Kwaku Asante: Molasses Lyrics: