4AD welcomes HAWA to its roster and reveals ‘Wake Up’, her debut single for the label.
‘Wake Up’ marks a softer side to the genre-bending rapper/singer’s oeuvre, centring petty ruminations atop a beat by Cadenze (Jorja Smith, Burna Boy) and recorded at long-time collaborator Tony Seltzer’s NYC studio. The song follows a whirlwind period that saw HAWA close Telfar’s Pitti Uomo show, collaborate with British fashion house Burberry and featured in W magazine’s latest music issue alongside Bad Bunny and Saweetie.
21-year-old New Yorker HAWA began her musical career as a pre-teen touring the world as one of the youngest-ever composers for the New York Philharmonic after immigrating from Berlin, where she was born to West African parents. HAWA’s insatiable creativity became stifled by the classical world’s limitations so she broke out, pivoting towards an authentic musical representation of herself. With songs that centre on the women she loves, those who she plays and those who play her, HAWA released her debut EP The One in 2020 via b4 (4AD’s sister label). HAWA is currently in the studio working on her debut album.
The artwork for ‘Wake Up’ is by Aya Brown, whose portraits of essential works earned widespread attention from New York Times and Vogue, and who co-starred in HAWA’s video for ‘Frick’ as her partner in crime.
Praise for 2020 Debut EP The One:
“Intricate melodies and lush soundscapes that push the boundaries of popular rap and R&B…both tender and bold [with] uncommon grace” – PITCHFORK
“Built on precision with an intricate soundscape and clever, boasting lyrics.” – W MAGAZINE
“There’s more than enough versatility to guarantee HAWA’s place on any list of emerging stars.” – HIGHSNOBIETY
“HAWA embrace[s] leftfield hip hop and R&B, with a style that can be hard-hitting in one moment, and hazed-out, expressive, and romantic in the next.” – DAZED
“Her laidback genre-defying productions are set apart from the influx of lo-fi bulls**t thanks to a deeper understanding of musical elements — topped with all-too-relatable sing-rap verses about falling in love with girls over DM.” – i-D
“Subtly complex.” – Pigeons & Planes
“Magnetic ease.” – THEM.
“Stirring prowess.” – OFFICE
“The genre-blurring artist taking rap in new directions.” – DUMMY
HAWA ONLINE
@mightbehawa
