Album: Gyakie – After Midnight

Ghanaian singer-songwriter Gyakie releases her highly anticipated debut album “After Midnight”, a 17-track exploration of vulnerability, healing, identity, and self-love which cements her position as one of Africa’s most captivating female voices.

Gyakie is recognized for her distinctive sound, which combines elements of Afro-R&B, highlife, and alternative music, and is characterized by her unique voice and narrative songwriting style. The album showcases her artistic development and growth from a young girl with a natural affinity for music to a confident artist embracing her full potential.

She is the daughter of the renowned Ghanaian highlife musician Nana Acheampong, and “After Midnight” showcases her own musical legacy: a profoundly personal collection of songs formed in the quietness and enigma of the night.

The album’s title takes inspiration from the time frame in which it was made, with Gyakie revealing that nearly all the songs were recorded after midnight. During this timeframe, I am most likely to discover my inspiration for writing. The calm atmosphere, the songs of the birds, the sense of serenity, all aspects of that period foster my creativity.

The album was introduced with a captivating narrative trailer directed by Alex Piper, which featured the album’s “Intro” track and also included previously released singles “Sankofa” and “Unconditional”, each providing insight into the album’s emotional depth.

From aching honesty through to cultural pride and spiritual surrender, the singles alluded to the multidimensional soundscape that Gyakie was creating, one grounded in personal truth and designed for a global audience.

The album also features notable collaborations with artists like 6LACK, Kojey Radical, Omar Sterling, Headie One, Shatta Wale, and Young Jonn, showcasing a fusion of cultures that highlights the universal power of music to unite people.

“After Midnight” is now fully revealed, offering a captivating blend of narratives and sonic elements. The collection features a range of tracks, from quiet late-night prayers to upbeat party songs, making it an ideal accompaniment to the various emotions that arise in the hours after midnight.

Effortlessly shifting between mellow ballads, energetic highlife rhythms, stripped-down soul music, and uplifting amapiano anthems, Gyakie seamlessly combines vulnerability and confidence, delicacy and power, drawing her audience into her journey of healing, introspection, and self-discovery.

“The theme of this album revolves around transformation,” Gyakie says. It’s about accepting all the different facets of my personality, including my vulnerabilities, my resilience, my history, my current situation, and the aspirations I’m pursuing. I hope listeners discover aspects of themselves within these songs.”