Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Amaarae is ushering in a new chapter with her new album, “Black Star“—a vibrant, hedonistic celebration of Black diasporic dance music and a statement of artistic confidence.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Amaarae described Black Star as “the genesis of me feeling sure and confident in myself as a grown woman… knowing exactly what my message is and how I want to tell it to the world.” To bring that vision to life, she traveled to Brazil with longtime collaborator Kyu Steed, connecting with baile-funk producers whose work she deeply admires. “They make music not for money or hits, but for the expression, and that is so beautiful,” she explained. “I wanted to feel free like that.”
Off the album, “S.M.O.” (Slut Me Out) blends the sultry disco spirit of Donna Summer with the bold, unapologetic energy of Control-era Janet Jackson. The result is a track that celebrates sexual freedom while inviting listeners to lose themselves on the dance floor. “The message can’t be mistaken, and the beat makes you move. That’s all I want to do this summer: make people dance and feel things,” Amaarae said in a statement.
Amaarae’s star has been steadily rising since her 2023 sophomore album, ‘Fountain Baby,’ which earned her global recognition and a coveted place at major music festivals —includinga historic performance as the first Ghanaian solo female act at Coachella. She has collaborated with artists like Janelle Monáe, Rina Sawayama, and Childish Gambino and toured with Kaytranada and Sabrina Carpenter and recently appeared at the Governors Ball.
In a conversation with GRAMMY.com, Amaarae talks about her increasing synergy with her homeland, why she’s focused on disrupting predictable narratives in African pop, and what it takes to make truly great music.
With Black Star, Amaarae is poised to take her sound—and her message—even further, merging cross-continental rhythms, unapologetic self-expression, and the unshakable desire to make people move.
