Ayọ is the fifth studio album by German singer and songwriter Ayọ, released on 6 October 2017 by Ogun Music.

Ayọ
Studio album by
Released6 October 2017 (2017-10-06)
Recorded2017
StudioBrooklyn, New York
Genre
Length59:09
LabelOgun
Ayọ chronology
Ticket to the World
(2013)
Ayọ
(2017)
Royal
(2020)
Singles from Ayọ
  1. "I'm a Fool"
    Released: 28 June 2017
  2. "Paname"
    Released: 7 September 2017

In an interview, the singer explains the reason why she took the unusual step to name not her first but her fifth album after herself: "My previous records were me, but this record is all of me. It's like a new beginning where I can truly be myself for the first time without having to explain my mission, or myself."[1] The music on the new album aims to blend folk reggae, pop and hip-hop with soul-infused vibes.

The first single from the album, "I'm a Fool", was released in June 2017.[2] The second single "Paname" (a nickname for Paris and its suburbs[3]) was released in September 2017. The song was named after the gypsy name for Paris.[4] For both singles a music video was published.

The album was written over the last three to four years during a time of great personal and career changes.[5] The songs were recorded in Brooklyn, New York in the singer's apartment on her laptop or even on her phone.[6][7]

Track listing

edit
  1. "Nothing" – 4:30
  2. "All I Want" – 3:38
  3. "Paname" – 2:37
  4. "Boom Boom" – 3:58
  5. "Why" – 3:50
  6. "If Love Is a Killer" – 2:59
  7. "Velvet Clouds" – 4:39
  8. "Cupcakes and Candies" – 3:46
  9. "Let It Rain" – 4:28
  10. "I Pray" – 4:35
  11. "I'm a Fool" – 4:27
  12. "Again" – 3:33
  13. "Forever and Beyond" – 4:33
  14. "Fearless" – 7:36

Charts

edit
Chart performance for Ayọ
Chart (2017) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[8] 133
French Albums (SNEP)[9] 93

References

edit
  1. ^ Allen, Camilla (26 September 2017). "Ayo talks of musical rebirth, self-reflection and her new album AYO". True Africa. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. ^ "I'm a Fool" : Ayo annonce son nouvel album avec une ballade soul vibrante
  3. ^ Paris Dreams, Paris Memories: The City and Its Mystique by Charles Rearick p37
  4. ^ Ayo’s Beautiful Love Letter to “African Paris” in ‘Paname’
  5. ^ Soulfood Music Distribution Weekly Menue 38
  6. ^ Ayo : Son nouvel album en 2017 !
  7. ^ Dumont, Alexandra (6 October 2017). "Ayo: J'ai écrit ces chansons pour faire du bien à mon âme". Le Parisien. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ay%26%237885%3B – Ay%26%237885%3B" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Lescharts.com – Ay%26%237885%3B – Ay%26%237885%3B". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2017.