8.5.2024
ASCENDANT STAR OXLADE SHOWCASES VOCALS IN ACOUSTIC VERSION OF LATEST SINGLE “ARABAMBI”
THE LAGOS NATIVE PREPARES FOR OXLADE FROM AFRICA, HIS UPCOMING DEBUT ALBUM
LISTEN HERE
WATCH HERE
Critical Praise:
“Oxlade’s ‘Ku Lo Sa’ is Big. He’s Thinking Bigger…Though he’s built a respectable repertoire of tender Afrobeats jams since 2018, Oxlade is a recent international sensation, thanks to his viral hit ‘Ku Lo Sa,’ in which he contours his delicate, refined voice around lovelorn pleas.” – Rolling Stone
“A minor-key Afrobeats groove with little guitar curlicues sums up the mood: sleek and resigned.” – The New York Times on “Intoxycated” ft. Dave
“Oxlade is one of the biggest Afrobeats singers with more than 290,000 videos using his song ‘Ku Lo Sa’ on TikTok alone.” – BBC
“Oxlade has become a force in Afrobeats this past year.” – UPROXX
“Oxlade’s sultry voice was first introduced on his big break, Blaqbonez’s ‘Mamiwota,’ and from that moment it was apparent that Nigerian music had another star on its hands. It was a performance that helped change the tide towards mid and low-tempo songs in mainstream Nigerian music. It was only a matter of time before Oxlade proved to the world that he was a force to be reckoned with, and a special talent among the new guard of Afrobeats stars.” – OkayAfrica
“Ku Lo Sa” is one of The Best Afrobeats Songs of 2022 – OkayAfrica
The Acoustic Version:
(August 2, 2024) Rising Afropop star Oxlade impresses with his vocals and musicality on “Arabambi” (Acoustic), a stripped-down version of his latest single. In the new acoustic version of the single, a love song that blends Afrobeats, R&B, and pop, Oxlade leads a 7-person ensemble, featuring acoustic guitar, 6-string bass, cajon percussion, violin, and three background vocalists. Wearing a stylish yellow suit, Oxlade stuns with his textured vocals, expressing the yearning lyrics through his astonishing falsetto.
Listen to “Arabambi” (Acoustic) HERE
Watch the music video HERE
Released earlier this summer in its full version, “Arabambi” is a single from Oxlade’s debut album Oxlade From Africa, which arrives this fall.
About the track, Oxlade says “Arabambi means ‘the child of the people,’ “the community gave birth to this child”, “the one.” It’s also the nickname of K1 De Ultimate, an iconic Nigerian Fuji musician. The melody is inspired by the American singer Miguel and the way he uses his vocals. It’s a love song but it’s still me in my braggadocious elements. It is the original song I was meant to perform for COLORSxSTUDIOS before I swapped it for ‘Ku Lo Sa.’”
“Arabambi” is the latest release from Oxlade From Africa, Oxlade’s upcoming debut album, following “Intoxycated“, the red hot collaboration with UK rap star Dave as well as his two-pack single KATIGORI/PIANO. A smooth single that dissects the modern language of love, “Intoxycated” reached the Top 50 of the UK official charts, garnered coverage in The New York Times, and earned Hottest Record distinction from BBC Radio 1. The album continues the momentum from Oxlade’s massive 2022 hit, “Ku Lo Sa“, which racked up over 541 million global streams.
Oxlade’s rise to mainstream recognition continued in full force last year with a nomination for Best Afrobeats Song at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Oxlade’s BBMA nomination followed a strong showing at the 2023 Headie Awards, where he received four nominations including Best Song Of The Year and Best Recording Of The Year. Just before, Oxlade raised his profile with incredible live performances, including a performance with Usher at the Global Citizen Festival in Ghana, and a performance alongside Wizkid at the Accor Arena in France.
This month, Oxlade prepares to perform concerts in Europe. On August 9th, Ox travels to Portugal to perform at Sudoeste Festival, and heads to Nice on August 13th. Stay tuned for more information about Oxlade’s shows soon.
Oxlade From Africa arrives Fall 2024 via Epic Records.
LISTEN TO “ARABAMBI” HERE
WATCH “ARABAMBI” MUSIC VIDEO HERE
Artwork here // All assets here
For more info about Oxlade, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats
Destiny Riley, Audible Treats
Derek Shannon, Epic Records
About Oxlade:
Born Ikuforiji Abdulrahman Olaitan and raised in Lagos, Oxlade started his musical journey in the choir, then releasing his first songs on Soundcloud back in 2017. He caught the attention of Nigerian fans the following year with the release of his debut single “Shugar“. Oxlade’s international glow started in 2020 with his single “Away,” making it to Rolling Stone’s “Top 50 songs of the year 2020” and getting praised by Drake.
The 26-year-old native of Lagos scored a global hit last year when he revealed an intimate performance of his song “Ku Lo Sa” on COLORSxSTUDIO. The green-tinted video was a massive success, generating over 77 million YouTube views, making it the most-watched COLORSxSTUDIO video in the past four years. “Ku Lo Sa” catapulted on its YouTube momentum to become a global hit: charting in across 61 countries on Apple Music and 23 markets on Spotify, peaking in the Top 10 in the UK’s Hip-Hop/R&B chart and peaking at #5 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats chart, and reaching #11 on Billboard’s Year-End U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. Oxlade welcomed Camila Cabello for the official “Ku Lo Sa” (Remix), and its sultry music video. “Ku Lo Sa” is nominated for “Best Afrobeats Song” a the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.
Oxlade went on with “Intoxycated“, a red hot collaboration with UK rap star Dave which reached the Top 50 of the UK official charts, garnered coverage in The New York Times, and earned Hottest Record distinction from BBC Radio 1.
Links:
instagram | youtube | spotify | tiktok | apple | audiomack
“Arabambi” (Acoustic): https://oxlade.lnk.to/arabambiacoustic / https://youtu.be/d06DsiAfYNU
“Arabambi”: https://oxlade.lnk.to/ARABAMBI
“KATIGORI” Music Video: https://youtu.be/tQ7zd5A6lQI
KATIGORI/PIANO EP: https://oxlade.lnk.to/KATIGORI-PIANO
“Intoxycated” ft. Dave: https://oxlade.lnk.to/.intoxycated
“Ovami” ft. Flavour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN8Yn0s4kJM
“Ku Lo Sa” (A COLORS Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pDQjwaH3qk
“Ku Lo Sa” (Remix) ft. Camila Cabello: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcIkmPU9reU