Once a trainee actor, Ghanaian-American songwriter/singer Akanni Ta Bom has set foot in the African music scene with new single The Pressure, Released May 25, 2023, the song is a testament to the artiste’s identity as he focuses on the complexity of existence.
With the slangy catchphrase “the pressure is getting wesser” used repetitively in the chorus, Akanni Ta Bom keys into an existential philosophy around survival in Africa. In another line, the artiste says, “khaki no be leather”, which is another popular West African Pidgin expression that contributes to the survivalist image the artiste is trying to paint. As he uses expressions that resonate with the worldview of Africans, especially the West African region, Akanni Ta Bom attempts to find a space for himself in the hearts of the indigenous audience.
Inspired by the likes of American stars Paul Robeson, Odetta, Osibisa, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and A Tribe Called Quest, Akanni Ta Bom capitalizes on divergent musical styles and unique songwriting patterns. This is evident in his new song, as he refuses to be cornered into comparisons or rigid stylistic definitions.
Having exposed himself to New York art-rock music, adopting different cognomens in the process, the non-conforming singer now positions himself as an apologist of artistic dynamism.
The Pressure can be described as a sonic handiwork with enchanting baselines. Simple, harmonious, and lyrically mesmerizing, the song manifests as a folk-some delivery that is sure to keep the appetite of fans whetted for more sonic experiments of the artiste.
Listen to The Pressure now.