Tune in to Africa Now Radio with Dadaboy Ehiz this Friday, July 22nd at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1
Cover Star Interview
Ghanaian singer-songwriter—and Apple Music’s current Africa Rising cover star—Gyakie joins Dadaboy Ehiz via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about her latest track, “Faraway.” She also discusses her new EP, ‘MY DIARY,’ balancing her academic and musical careers, and finding success globally.
The Big 5
Dadaboy Ehiz shares the 5 hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Pabi Cooper feat. Khanyisa, Yumbs & Liebah, DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small feat. Nobantu Vilakazi & Young Stunna, BNXN fka Buju & Wande Coal, King Promise feat. Omah Lay, and P-Square.
Africa Rising
Nigerian alté singer-songwriter Tesh Carter is the latest artist featured from Apple Music’s Africa Rising playlist, a campaign which shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features her singles, “Rebel (feat. Blaqbonez)” and “I LIke.”
Dadaboy’s Song of the Week
Each week, Dadaboy Ehiz chooses his favourite track from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week he spotlights South African amapiano stars Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa & Ami Faku and their single “Asibe Happy,” from Apple Music’s Amapiano Lifestyle playlist.
Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday July 22nd at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow.
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Gyakie on her EP ‘MY DIARY’
This is a particular project where I went deep – I actually spoke about too many things that I wouldn’t say on a daily, things I wouldn’t say out loud, things I have written in my diary.
I went in very wild, very vibrant, like a different version of Gyakie, so this project is literally you coming into my personal space, you getting to know the things I actually say to myself. This is a mature project because it’s been a year since I dropped anything else, and so people will actually get to realise that this project is a fully different version of me – a matured growth project.
Gyakie on music breakthrough while in school
In 2020-2021, it had been very difficult for me. I was doing school and I was doing music, and you know in the university you have your free will – you can decide to go to class, you can decide not to – so it was very difficult to tune my mind onto one thing.
I now had to make a choice, a serious dilemma: Gyakie, do you go to Accra to go and play this show, or do you stay in Kumasi and go to class? Do you submit your projects, or do you go to the studio? I just had to find a way to squeeze myself into it.
When it got to the point where ‘Forever’ blew, that was where everything was getting very difficult, in my final year of school so like the peak of everything, both sides. I don’t know how I was able to do this but I did it, and I’m here. I’ve been able to graduate school and I’ve made my parents proud.
Gyakie on going international
Since I started doing music, I’ve always wanted to tune my mind to the international market, I’ve always wanted my sound to be outside Ghana. I knew that time was going to come because I realised what I was doing was a different type of style, it was something that people were going to fall in love with easy, and so I got very happy when this happened so so quick.
I was able to get listeners from all around the world – Africa, outside Africa – and up to now it’s still happening, and so I do believe that the more I actually do good music and the more I keep doing what the people love, I’m going to keep getting into bigger markets, until the end of time.
