''A.A.A'' is the eponymous debut EP by Nigerian

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...

band A.A.A. It was recorded at Blackstar Studios in

Ikoyi Ikoyi is the most affluent neighborhood of Lagos, located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area. It lies to the northeast of Obalende and adjoins Lagos Island to the west, and at the edge of the Lagos Lagoon. Popular with the extreme upper class res ...

and released independently on August 5, 2019. The band is composed of singer

Brymo Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ (born Olawale Ibrahim Ashimi; 9 May 1986), better known as Brymo, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, stage performer,actor and author. He started recording music in 1999 while in secondary school. He signed a record dea ...

, guitarist Jad Moukarim, drummer Adey Omotade, and bassist Laughter. ''A.A.A'' comprises five tracks and is a fusion of

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...

and African rhythms; it was mixed and mastered by Mikky Me Joses.

Composition

In the folk and rock-tinged track "Johnbull", Brymo introduces listeners to a nominal character who left home in search of a better life. The song features an electric guitar riff by Jad Moukarim; its title is derived from a popular nursery rhyme. The rock-infused track "Mary Had an Orgasm" is about a titular lady who ends up having sexual relations with a man she hires to show her around the city. In the soulful ballad "Take Me Back to November", Brymo pleads to be taken back to a time when he had the trust of a loved one; the song also depicts a time when his relationship with the person was in good standing. In "Golden Eyes", Brymo is haunted by the ghost of the dead relationship depicted in the previous track. In the EP's closing track "The in-Between", he encourages listeners to keep persevering, pushing and striving.

Critical reception

''A.A.A'' received positive reviews from

music critics Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...

. A writer for Filter Free Nigeria awarded the EP 4.3 stars out of 5, praising its sound curation, production, thematic style and lyrics. The writer also said the EP "carries Brymo away from the enclosure of his usual sound to a slightly more upbeat realm while still maintaining the otherworldliness of his lyrics". Adewojumi Aderemi of Konbini Channels called ''A.A.A'' a "universal body of work" and characterized it as a "refreshing exploration of a plethora of sounds that we simply aren't used to hearing". Music critic Michael Kolawole said ''A.A.A'' is a "decent experimental piece, a litmus test that foretells what Brymo’s next project may sound like. It's a show of Brymo tenacity, a testament to his songwriting skill and vocal phrasing".

Track listing

Notes * signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from a press release posted on Jaguda.com. *Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ – lead vocals, production *Jad Moukarim – lead guitar, production *Adey Omotade – drums, production *Laughter – bass guitar, production *Mikky Me Joses – mixing, mastering, additional production

Release history

References

{{Brymo 2019 debut EPs