Establishing the mood with a meditative frequency, an acoustic guitar and the powerful invocation, “Olódùmarè (supreme creator), source of breath, source of life, ancestors who walk before us, guard the path we walk today, from the wisdom of Ifá, to the voice within the heart, Àṣẹ..”, OLA B opens ÀṢẸ with a high spiritual quotient.
The opus expands with divine vocals, textured djembe and bougarabou, with sublime choral moments and intentional depth. We deeply connect with the overarching message of ÀṢẸ as OLA B channels her ancestors and reminds us that the path is never lost, and how we are guided by the drums of the elders.
Naturally, the production of ÀṢẸ is nothing short of perfection, due in part to the technology used to create the track. This truly feels like the raw and authentic embodiment of Afro-futurism, taking these ancient philosophies and translating them for a new sonic era.
Speaking on the release, OLA B tells us, “ÀṢẸ is rooted in Yoruba spiritual philosophy, particularly the idea that spoken words carry divine power and shape reality.”
For some background, ÀṢẸ (pronounced ah-sheh) refers to the long-standing Yoruba concept describing divine energy. It is the power that brings words, intentions, and creation into reality. The magic of the universe. We are grateful that OLA B is bringing this to the mainstream through a new, digitally enhanced lens.
We learn that OLA B is a UK-based Afro-spiritual artist. ÀṢẸ serves as the second instalment in the Yoruba Philosophy Series, a three-part collection of cinematic singles that explore destiny, divine force and cultural identity. Inspired by Ifá teachings, Yoruba cosmology, and the idea that every person carries an inherent spiritual force, OLA B‘s work reflects a wider artistic perspective: the belief that what we seek through prayer is already known within us, though it may be forgotten.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added ÀṢẸ to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of OLA B, including ASA KO LE KU, and all three versions of ORI MI.