Asake: Dreaming Differently

Asake never plotted the distance. When he started out, the mission was simple: get what was inside him out into the world and let the rest take care of itself. The rest has since included the O2 in London, where the crowd on his In God We Trust tour sang every word back to him, and a global curiosity that now reaches past the music to the culture behind it. Success hasn’t made him settle. It has changed the way he dreams, and he’s still quick to say he feels like he’s at the beginning.

Faith runs through everything he says, but so does freedom. He won’t make a song just because he knows it will work, he treats fashion as an extension of himself rather than a costume, and he’d be dancing even if music had never happened. Here, he talks about staying true to where he comes from, why the unfamiliar is where he learns the most about himself, and what he hopes the next generation takes from his rise.

You've achieved things that once might have felt impossible. Has the success of your career so far changed your idea of what's possible in the future?

I think it has made me understand that there is no real limit to what God can do through you. When I started, I was focused on the music and finding a way to share what was inside of me. I wasn't thinking about all the places it would take me. Now I've seen how far the music can travel, and it makes me dream differently. But I still feel like I'm at the beginning. There are so many things I haven't experienced yet, so many things I want to create. I don't want to become comfortable with what I've already done.

When you think about the artists who inspired you growing up, what do you hope the next generation takes from your journey?

I want them to understand that you don't have to change yourself to go far. I came into this with my own sound, my own background and my own way of doing things. I stayed true to that, and God has taken the music to places I never imagined. I'm grateful to the artists who came before me because they made it possible for us to be here. Now it's our turn to keep pushing things forward. I hope the next generation sees what we've done and knows that there are no limits to what they can achieve. Just believe in yourself and don't forget where you're coming from.

You've performed on some of the world's biggest stages. Is there a particular moment or show when you've felt most connected to your audience?

The O2 in London during my recent In God We Trust tour was a very special moment for me. Seeing that many people come together for the music, singing every word, it's something you can't really explain. You work hard in the studio, sometimes you don't know how far a song will go, and then you stand on a stage like that and hear the whole crowd singing it back to you. It reminds you that the music belongs to everybody now. Those are the moments I thank God for.

Your music is unmistakably Nigerian but resonates across the world. What do you think African artists of today are teaching the world about African culture?

I think we're showing the world that African culture has always had something special to offer. The music, the fashion, the way we dance, the way we express ourselves. It's all connected to where we come from. What I love about this moment is that people are not just listening to the music, they're becoming interested in the culture behind it. And we're doing it in our own way. We don't have to sound or look like anybody else. We can be ourselves and still reach the whole world.

If you weren’t doing music, what would you be doing?

I would probably still be dancing. I've always loved to dance. Even before music became what it is for me today, movement was a big part of how I expressed myself. I don't think I could ever separate that part of me from who I am. Maybe I would have found another way to make people move.

Describe a normal day for you - what does it look like? Are there any unexpected hobbies or habits you have?

Honestly, my days depend on what I have going on. When I'm on tour, everything is about the show, traveling and making sure I'm ready to give people a good performance. When I'm home, I like to rest, spend time around people I love. I also enjoy just having time to myself. I don't need every day to be busy. Sometimes you just want to enjoy life, thank God for another day and take things as they come.