By Taiwo Okanlawon
Afro-soul singer and songwriter Ayola held a live show for his sophomore album, “The Life I Want,” on Friday, and it was well attended by his fans and colleagues in the music industry.
The new album dropped in the early hours of Friday, October 11, 2024, the same day the album show was held.
The singer collaborated with ConnectAfrobeats to host an album live show at the Kairus Hub in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, putting fans at the forefront. The event heralded the beginning of many historic nights for the album to come.
Guests who had arrived in anticipation of the big event, mostly to secure the best seats in the house, were all issued tags and wristbands to gain entry to the venue.
Neon lights illuminating the space, booming music filling the air, and complimentary rounds of cocktails flowing, every guest was either immersed in the rhythmic beats, primarily afrobeats and 2010s hip-hop, or engrossed in their phones, responding to messages or capturing selfies and videos for their social media feeds.
The album features standout tracks such as ‘Pass Me By,’ ‘Life I Want,’ ‘I Hope To Be Free,’ and ‘Actor n Boss,’.’ Recorded across Canada and Nigeria, “The Life I Want” blends Highlife, Jazz, Soul, Afro-funk, R&B, and Motown influences.
With only three tracks played, the crowd cheered Ayola enthusiastically, with each subsequent song garnering more and more praise from the audience. Explaining the creative process for the album opener ‘Bird Sings of Money,’ a hip-hop-inspired mid-tempo track, he said:
Speaking on what inspired the title of the album, he said, “It might feel like the life I want is happy all the time and it might also feel like ‘I don’t know’. My relationship at the time broke and I was the best man for my friend on his wedding day and I am kind of feeling like my life is wasting away when he is having his own put together.”
On why he took him almost three years after his last project, Ayola said, “I took a little time off becauseI felt I needed to discover my artistry. The reason I’m making this needed to be beyond just my ability to do it. I felt like it should have a purpose, and convincing myself it did was the journey that took 3 years.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Default. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
“Despite this, I was creating all along, I just wasn’t putting it out. I also went through life during those times, and I documented the feelings, which turned into what became the The Life I Want album,” he added.
Ayola also performed lead songs off his previous projects, ‘Sare Toban’ from his debut album “Conversation till Dawn” and ‘Scum’ from his first project, “Scum” EP.
Celebrities in attendance include ace comedian and rapper, Basketmouth, award winning producer, Duktor Sett among others.
See photos below;
