Apple Music: ‘Africa Now Radio’ with Nandi Madida this Friday features FAVE

Cover Star Interview
Nigerian Afro-fusion singer-songwriter FAVE joins Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about her latest single, “Complicated.” She also discusses her new EP, ‘Dutty Love,’ how she kicked off her music career as a student, and how she expanded her musical palette.

This Week’s Hottest New Tracks
Nandi Madida shares the hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Kashcoming & Tml Vibez, Fido, Lil Kesh, Fireboy DML & Ayo Maff, Murumba Pitch, Kabza De Small & Mthunzi feat. PHILA DLOZI, and Vigro Deep, Freddy K & Mr JazziQ feat. Scotts Maphuma & CowBoii.

Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday, November 8th at 9a London / 10a Lagos/Paris / 11a Johannesburg / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow and broadcast on YFM Accra every Sunday at 2pm, YFM Kumasi on Saturdays at 3pm and YFM Takoradi on Saturdays at 6pm.

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FAVE Tells Apple Music How She Started Her Music Career as a Student—and How Her Parents Reacted
It was liberating, because I have always wanted to go to the studio. I communicated that with my parents. I was always on their neck. I would try and get my uncles and aunties to put a word in for me. But my parents were so adamant about focusing on school. Luckily for me, they’re the type of people that don’t believe in just staying in a certain region or state for the rest of your life. They want you to travel and to be able to explore. I feel like university is one of those ways where you can learn about other cultures and broaden your mind. As much as they wanted me to focus on school, they did that. They put it in front of me and I had to bite. I was like, “I’m free finally—okay, [now] I can get into the studio.” It was very liberating for me. It was very nice for me to be able to do something without having to get their immediate permission first. And now show them the results and hear what they have to say about it.

FAVE Tells Apple Music How She Expanded her Musical Palette on Her New Album, ‘Dutty Love’ 
I do not love to stay in one genre of music. I really love to explore. I started making music, being very strict with the kind of music that I make. I would go into the studio saying, “I don’t want anything upbeat; I don’t want Afrobeats; I want specifically neo-soul; R&B, lo-fi.” Because the people I grew up listening to were on that vibe. Like Adele, Sia, Lana Del Rey, even XXXTentacion. They were making somber music. But as I started to branch out in the industry, I started to tell myself to see what happens if I actually try to handle a different genre. I realised that I actually had a lot of potential in me for different genres of music. As of right now, it’s still very exciting for me. As much as I used to run away from Afrobeats before, because it was very uptempo, now I’m like, “Bring it all.” You’re definitely getting to see a different side of me. I’m aware I don’t have that many songs out there, so people have this certain idea of me:  “Fave is this sultry singer.” But there’s also a side of me that is very attached to dancehall; very obsessed with Jamaican culture. Everything is so raw, so real. I always unintentionally or subconsciously find myself creating things that have that foundation of Jamaica or dancehall or reggaeton.

FAVE Tells Apple Music About the Artwork for Her New Album, ‘Dutty Love’ 
I think I would chalk up all the praise to my team—my manager; my creative director. I’m building a team of people who understand me. So I don’t do as much as I used to, in terms of all the creative ideas coming from me. Now I’m able to build creative ideas with people. The shoot was all put together by my creative director. [My team is] starting to understand me and I think with time, I’ll begin to show more of my style, and more of me, to the world and my fans.

FAVE Tells Apple Music About Her Track, “Complicated” 
“Complicated” takes me way back to when I was way younger, listening to old-school R&B-type dancehall vibes. I imagine myself just dancing. Every time the song comes on, I don’t know what it is that I’m doing but I just have to bop my head. For a long time, it was my favourite song of all my unreleased songs. A part of me wanted someone else to be on the song, but that never really worked out, and I don’t like to force things. So I wrote a second verse. I really, really love “Complicated”. I’m basically telling this person, “I want more than you’re willing to give me; why does my relationship status have to be complicated?” It’s a love song for someone who you want more than they want you.