Adwoa On the Brink

NUNAR front cover star Adwoa photographed in D.C. by Grace Bidemi.

NUNAR’s JAN 2024 Nu Era Issue print is now available.

Breathing life into her musical legacy inspired by her late father, Kwame Ansah-Brew, Adwoa Ansah-Brew emerges as a dynamic force in the Afrobeats RnB scene. Born into a world of rhythm, her music reflects simpler times, blending genres to tell beautiful stories. Adwoa's musical narrative, once adorned with love songs, takes a poignant turn after a near-death experience in 2022. Her latest offering, the 2023 10-track album "My Testimony," allows listeners to bear witness to this transformative chapter. With electrifying performances at notable venues like AM Fest, Baltimore by Baltimore, Union Stage, and the Howard Theater opening for Manny Wellz, Adwoa not only captivates audiences but also positions herself on the brink of stardom.

Can you share more about the influence of your late father, Kwame Ansah-Brew, on your musical journey and the legacy you aim to carry forward?

Thank you for asking. My father was a professor of the arts, and watching him perform, create, and teach was when I had some of my first introductions to music and its impact. I used to assist my father during his performances, whether I was there passing out flyers, playing the drums, flute, or African bell. It was always an amazing experience to see the ultimate joy on people’s faces while watching my father at work. My father knew how to control the room through music and understood the healing and love that music can bring and I aspire to have this same impact on my listeners and the world through my music. 

The transition in your musical narrative from love songs to a more poignant theme after a near-death experience in 2022 reflects an opening in your vulnerability. How did this experience shape your perspective and influence the creation of My Testimony?

My Testimony was a true story and a reflection of the process of healing. During my healing, I had a lot of time to myself and was alone with my thoughts. This allowed me to learn more about myself and reflect on what I had just gone through and was saved from. From that moment I knew that I was here for a reason and I wanted to not only share my talent with the world but also provide the same healing that music does for me.  

My Testimony could be described as a transformative chapter in your musical career. Could you delve into the themes and stories explored in this 10-track album?

My Testimony starts off with setting the plot of the album, starting with the exposition of my story and what inspired the following songs. “Are you ready” described a conversation with myself asking if I am ready for what is ahead of me and the steps I am taking to get there. “For Life, La Vida Loca, and Be Mine dive into the vulnerability of my love life. Finding love, leaving love, and wanting love again. “Jammin’ is when I begin to find confidence in myself and remember who I am and what I was made to do. My mother’s prayer leads me in my redemption song “WOMS” aka “Weight off my Shoulders” where I finally begin to feel like I am free from the burdens and pain of my past. “Find my way” describes my search for my place in life and how I will take the extra mile to reach my destiny. The album ends with closure, defining that I am content in “my lane” and knowing that no one and nothing can stop me from becoming my best self in music and life. 

Your performances at notable venues like AM Fest, Baltimore by Baltimore, Union Stage, and the Howard Theater have been electrifying. How do you approach live performances, and what kind of connection do you seek to establish with your audience?

I truly love performing, it is really an escaping and surreal feeling. Seeing the audience vibe and connecting with my music is everything. I put a lot of time into preparing for my performances, making sure that every live experience is a special one. I always like to perform my songs slightly differently from the studio version, and love giving the band creative freedom. It is always fun to mold all our different ideas into something beautiful. My ultimate hope is for the audience to connect with the real-life experiences woven into my music, finding solace in knowing that they are not alone. I know that someone in the audience may have experienced something similar to my story and I love to hear how my music helped someone along their way. 

Opening for Manny Wellz indicates your rising prominence in the industry. How has this experience impacted your artistic journey, and what insights have you gained from such opportunities?

Thank you! It was an amazing opportunity to open up for Manny Wellz, being on stage and doing what I love for people that necessarily were not there for me but were still moved by my performance was everything. This experience allowed me to work on my stage presence and audience interaction which was something I struggled with in the past. My confidence definitely improved after this performance and I will forever be grateful to 247artists, Manny Wellz and his team for making it possible.

In your music, you blend genres to tell beautiful stories. Can you elaborate on your creative process and the significance of storytelling in your musical expression?

Music is my form of therapy. I know that we have all heard that holding things in does more damage than good, so my music allows me to let it all out. When creating I like to repeatedly listen to the beat while freestyling and build the flow. Sometimes the beat takes me to a specific place in my life, which leads to the theme of the song. The beat of my song “WOMS: brought me to speak about moving through life and changing your perspective to continue to grow. Music allows me to not only tell my story but echo the story of those around me. Music is a medium of connection, healing, and love and presents itself in many different forms. And I think that it is important to be intentional when creating and always be true to what you know.

Your emergence as a dynamic force in the Afrobeats and RnB scene. How do you see yourself contributing to and shaping the future of this genre?

I want to continue to show that there are many different sounds of Afrobeats and RnB and that you shouldn't be pressured to sound or look like anyone else to make a hit. I want to be an example of how you can stay true to your sound and yourself all while making music that people fall in love with and are moved by.

What are you trying to manifest beyond 2024?

Beyond 2024 I am manifesting security in my artistry in all forms. I will continue to make music that I love and connect with the masses.