D'Watchlist

Adomaa Tells Her Story on “Becoming Adomaa.”

By Hope Ibiale
– November 23, 2022

Adomaa has been on a roll since the release of The Evolution of GH Music in May 2015. Seven years later, Adomaa’s youthful rendition of some of the most popular Ghanaian songs, is still one of the most defining moments in her career. Adomaa followed the rendition with her debut single “Healing Blossom,” a soundtrack to Frame 4 studios short animation film “Once Upon A Song Bird.” Healing Blossom represents Adomaa’s first original music project after her hit mashups. It is a free fall of emotions and aspirations from Adomaa. Now, Adomaa is back with a 7-track EP tagged “Becoming Adomaa.” With her latest project, Adomaa takes listeners on a journey through her struggles with mental health, and her music and how she has transitioned into a new phase.

Joy Onyinyechukwu Adomaa Serwaa Adjeman was born a few decades ago in Nigeria to a Nigerian mother and a Ghanaian father. At a young age, Adomaa joined the choir and began to unconsciously build her craft as a musician. After her mashup video went viral, Adomaa began to take music as a profession. However, Adomaa’s musical journey was plagued with stage fright, anxiety, self-doubt and depression. On one of her earliest releases, “Voices,” Adomaa sings about her struggles with fame. She sings, “There’s a lot going on, think I need a break. How much pressure can Adomaa take they yelling “Dumb it down and cash out!” I’m wondering how long till I pass out think I’m all too scared and I’m way too stressed.” Unlike her previous project, “Barely Adomaa,” Adomaa is confidently bearing her scars in “Becoming Adomaa,” and she also creates a safe space for people struggling with mental health.

On the opening track, Adomaa reminisces on her musical journey and wishes she had done things differently. The song starts with, “Your roses hang on my walls, wilting steadily,” the roses represent her previous albums and achievements. It is a raw and emotional song. When Adomaa sings, “Wish I did it all for me,” she sings from a place of regret. By starting the album with this track, Adomaa introduces listeners to her state of mind.

On “In the clouds,” Adomaa continues to question her decisions and reminisce on her journey in the music industry. She sings, “One hit cover, life changed forever. The spotlight start to flicker.” For upcoming artistes, it is often difficult to plant their feet firmly in the industry because of how hard it is to “blow” and be recognised. In Adomaa’s case, the hit cover put her in the spotlight, but after a short time, the spotlight began to fade and she didn’t know her next step. Hence, she was stuck in the cloud. Usually, after their first hit song, artistes find it difficult to move past the success of one hit song. Adomaa is not left out of this predicament as she goes personal on “In the clouds.”

Over the Reynolds The GentleMan-produced track, “Smoke and mirrors,” Adomaa questions her appearance and tries to get answers from her mirror. She sings, “I’ve been wondering what do you see when you see me/Smoke and mirrors, one day you’ll beautiful.”

“Circus” is a clear representation of what the music industry is, a circus. Musicians are likened to performers in a circus because of their similar features. They can’t be unhappy, they don’t show emotions and they give performances regardless of how they feel. But the audience should always remember that musicians are made of flesh and blood. They are not gods or invulnerable to emotions. The song starts with a happy tune that gives off the perception that “Circus” is a happy song. “If ever you’re down with the blues, for a price we will thrill and amuse. If ever there is gloom and there’s doom, we’re the merriest crowd you could choose/welcome to the circus,” for most people music is an escape from reality, but what about those who make the music, what is their escape from reality? Most times they are all alone “All alone on this merry-go-round.” The production might be amusing but the lyrics are dark. They are someone’s reality, someone’s experience.

“Sick and tired, I’m not wired for this kind of life. Some days I’m flying, some days I crash to the ground,” Adomaa sings on the opener of “Crash.” Here, the artiste talks about the circumstances surrounding her decision to quit music a few years ago. Throughout the song, she chants, “Leave me alone,” Adomaa reflects on this moment of her life and listeners can understand her reason for quitting music “The path unknown, but I must go to cleanse my soul and ease my mind.”

“Utopia” is an ode to Adomaa’s new space. On this song, she is no longer trapped in the circus, she isn’t crashing into a dark hole. Instead, she has found a place to be free and make art the way she wants. She sings, “Right here is the only place I can be, no drowning in pain. Right here is the perfect to breathe again.” Here, Adomaa is happy, she truly deserves to be happy.

Adomaa closes the project with “Beginning Again.” Here, she not only finds a safe space but also has the freedom to start again. She sings, “Took a while to find my home. I’ve battled different voices drowned them out till I finally found my own. Now, I dance to the pounding of my own drum,” letting everyone know that she is free and ready to face life head-on. While talking about “Becoming Adomaa,” she said, “This time I do it on my terms, my way. No more trying to do everything under the sun to make another hit. I’m not a mainstream artist, I never was. I’m Jazz, I’m Soul, I’m Blues, I’m R&B, I’m Gospel, all mixed with my African elements and sonic influences. I’m Adomaa. It’s time to make the music I should’ve been making from the very start.”

On “Becoming Adomaa,” Adomaa creates a project that documents her struggles with fame, the music industry, mental health and finally finding her voice. Here, she becomes a beacon of hope, a teacher and a freedom fighter. This EP shows that Adomaa is on the right track. Listen to the EP here and let us know your favourite track off the project.