Chart-Topping Soulstress, Imani Shola Seamlessly Fuses 80s Soul And Afrobeats In 'Easy'
Following the viral success of soulful Soft Maverick, and chart-topping Still On You, Imani Shola will release genre-defying, 80s-Soul-inspired Easy on 23 August 2024.
80s Soul meets Afrobeats? ‘Easy’! The upcoming release continues Imani’s theme this year of bringing her listeners back to her RnB Soul niche, following her explorative EP, Mapmaking Vol. i (2023). Heavily inspired by the likes of Soul ii Soul (sing it with us: ‘Back to life… back to reality!’), Chaka Khan and Cheryl Lynn, fans of all generations are sure to love the track’s rhythmic, faith-centred switch from 80s Soul at the start, to Afrobeats at the end. And, of course, what would an Imani Shola song be without her rousing, immersive harmonies to top it off?
“Easy’s dissonant harmonies and playful, melodic Afrobeat percussiveness at the end were really fun to create! I hope it appeals to our parents who grew up on Chic, Soul ii Soul and Chaka Khan, as much as to Gen Z who are loving Afrobeats at the moment!’
Rooted firmly in scripture (2 Corinthians 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30), the vibey, uplifting track is sure to encourage and remind listeners to cast their cares onto the God who loves them. “Here, we walk by faith, not sight”, we’re reminded. Laden with vibrant rhythms, rich syncopated percussion and infectious joy, the track is a love letter from a loving God to His children; a reminder of His care for us and His desire that we live lightly and freely, anchored in His love. Easy seamlessly bridges generations and genres, bringing delight to all in a way that only Imani, born in the 90s and raised on the 80s, can.
Imani worked with friends and producers Július Korbela, who expertly mixes and masters most of her music and knows her voice like the back of his hand, and Philip ‘Vivace’ Asiamah, who also masterfully produced her two latest successes.
Hailing from North London, the daughter of a gifted jazz-saxophonist father, Imani has been aligned with the best in Jazz, Soul and Gospel for as long as she can remember. She was raised on the melodies of greats such as Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Mary Mary; Miles Davis and Erykah Badu; Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones. More recent influences include the detailed harmonies of Alex Isley, the feminine flair or Nao, and the soothing vocals of Snoh Aalegra and Cleo Sol. Like these artists, undertones of jazz and soul colour her works. Imani characterises herself with distinctive harmonies and authentic lyricism, that set her apart.
Winner of the July 2024 UK R&B Christian Charts, and selected by Spotify's editors for editorial playlists All New Christian & Gospel, Rhythm & Praise, and Fresh Finds Faith, she's already built up a buzz since her 2020 debut, and has garnered press features from names such as We Write About Music, A Step FWD UK Christian Charts, and Color, to name a few. She's bold, talented, charismatic, and full of soul, and we can't wait to see what 2025 has in store for Imani.
