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ON THE RISE
Nigerian-American singer and performer, Ase Odin whisks global audiences to an uplifting, relaxing soundscape with his single, “No Wahala No Problem (Hakuna Matata).” Delivering a universal sound that crosses countries and cultures, he reminds us to take a break from our problems and enjoy a moment of relaxation.
Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Ase Odin has been surrounded by music throughout his life. His early influences helped shape his unique sound, a blend of Afrobeat, reggae, soul, and storytelling. After decades of dedication to his profession, Ase Odin is reunited with music and eager to share it with audiences from all over.
It’s no wonder Ase Odin found his way back to music—it’s inescapably in his genes. His father was a local government police officer who played for events and special occasions as part of the band. “My father and I were transferred to the west of Nigeria when I was a child. He was so good at playing saxophone and trombone, so they gave him a promotion. What I loved most is since I was the only one there (my mother stayed in our hometown), he would take me to practice with him. After practice, we had the pleasure of cleaning the instruments with tools; he took pride in that. I became so involved in music,” shares Ase Odin.
Not only was his father a respected musician, his mother also came from a group of family singers. “My uncles and aunts were tribal singers and sang in our tribal language,” he adds. Because instruments were hard to come by, a young Ase Odin created his own out of sticks and spoons and would create his own rhythms and beats out of creativity.
Before he came back to music, Ase Odin followed a path that was expected and hoped of him. “When we come to America from developing countries, our parents at home want us to have an academic career job. You cannot grow up in most of these countries and want to be an actress or videographer or singer. They mold you to need an academic career like a doctor, pharmacist, engineer, or lawyer. When the opportunity came for me to go to school, I had to create something I could fall back on and raise a family while taking care of my extended family back in Nigeria. So, people ended up doing things they didn’t love or weren’t talented in,” explains Ase Odin.
Living in Seattle, he became a pharmacist, providing support to his family and relatives overseas. Now, close to retiring, it’s finally time for Ase Odin to pursue his own passion: his long beloved music.
Thus far, Ase Odin has released two singles, “No Wahala” and “Mama Mama.” His next single, “How Far,” is pending release.
“No Wahala” is a reflection of the everyday struggle we all share. “If you look at people—you and I—everyday people, no matter where you are, we’re running a rat race all over the world. Every day is a struggle. Sometimes we feel like our whole life is a time crunch. We all just need to chill and get away—take a vacation, some time to relax and take it easy and be at peace with ourselves.”
According to Ase Odin, it doesn’t matter where you come from or how much you get paid, we all have challenges within ourselves and our homes, but we can choose to look at it from a different angle and think “Tomorrow is another day, a different day.”
When it came to writing “No Wahala,” Ase Odin first crafted the message, then created the beat that went with it. “I listened to different types of sounds when I was younger. When a situation happens, I find the beat comes and then I match it with the song. I figure out where I can fit the hook or chorus line, then match and melt, making sure the message, beats, and rhythm are aligned.”
The more Ase Odin creates, the more he finds himself experimenting and exploring. “I like getting out of the box,” he adds. “I’m always pushing boundaries with how a song should sound in my head.” To create his music, Ase Odin turns to his home studio, where he’ll put down drums, bass, treble, and any highlights he hears in the process. “I listen to how I want it to sound and play it over in my head,” he shares. “If I think an actual guitar would sound better, I get real musicians to add to the recording.”
Ase Odin’s greatest hope is to inspire others through his music. “We all have different personalities and pathways in life, different destinies. We will all turn out differently. What I consider success is the happiness that comes from lifting people up. When we all have a story to tell together—that’s my happiness.”
“Everyday people can relate to my music and feel good about themselves in that they’re not alone. We’re all going through it.”
Make sure to stay connected to Ase Odin on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
ON THE RISE
Clinton Brand III – better known as CBIII – is a California-based rapper. His new single, titled “I Won’t Quit,” is a motivational and relatable message for everyone “going through it.”
The track, with a beat by Tunna Beats, has a Blurry Face vibe. It starts with a violin and the soft “ahh”s of featured singer Alex Brinkley. When the beat drops, piano, bass and drums enter along with CBIII’s lyrical meditations on “overthinking, contemplating, and debating” why he “won’t quit.”
As the final line makes clear, the song is a study in contradictory mindsets. There’s the fear of failure – what if I’m not good enough? – and then the contrast of relentlessness as stated in the title.
The lyrics of the song’s final quattrain are especially strong. Beginning with an example of CBIII’s wordplay (phenomenal and astronomical anomaly), the final message is one of inspiration: I’m tired of this, so I’m going to make it better.
This struggle with nagging self-doubt and overthinking makes “I Won’t Quit” very relatable. In the end, CBIII wants listeners to be inspired, to not give in when they find themselves in similar circumstances.
Brand’s inspiration for “I Won’t Quit” was intensely personal. Following the death of his parents at a young age, he was raised by his grandmother and then was placed in foster care. A recent visit found his grandmother’s memory fading; this was painful, considering that she had once been his biggest supporter.
This episode left him feeling abandoned, in a dark place.
He says, “I wrote the song ‘I Won’t Quit’ because at that time I was suicidal. I didn’t have nobody else to turn to because my grandma didn’t really care anymore.”
The vulnerability expressed in the lyrics made CBIII unsure if he wanted to release the song at all. He says, “I actually sat on the song for like five months before even thinking about releasing it because it’s so close to home that I wasn’t even sure if I was going to have the courage to share it.”
Now that the song is out, its vulnerability is its strength. Brand’s struggle is real, and the general contours – missing family support, doubting yourself, knowing you need to persevere – will be familiar to many.
In addition to his personal desire to live up his dream of greatness, Brand has another reason not to give up: his younger brother, who is currently in foster care. Knowing his brother looks up to him, he wants to remind him that giving in to doubt is the easy way out.
Brand says, “I want to encourage him, to show him that if you set your mind to it, bro, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
In the end, CBIII wants listeners to learn from his pain, to ask themselves, “What if I don’t give up?”
Stream “I Won’t Quit” now, wherever you listen to music.
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