Women Chune Wednesdays EP.7

“The focus of Women Chune Wednesdays is on taking the adoration of women on Wednesdays i.e #WCW, and placing it on women in music. 3 amazing projects (song or tape) by female artistes from any time period in music will be shared weekly. Look out for your favs!” - A lover of women & music.”

WCW EP.7 : Asa, Noname & Madonna

Madonna - Something to Remember (1995)

This album arrived in stores 4 days ago, in 1995, it was Madonna’s atonement to fans following the flurry of controversies she sparked. She has stated in the past that the concept for the album was to make fans and critics remember her music contributions rather than her media controversies. She combines her melodic strengths and charm to deliver album title song Something To Remember. The vocal hue of Oh Father is bright and her understated approach conveys both the regret and her fixation on defeating the emotions she sings about. Her voice had been seen as not strong enough, and only suited for dance tunes but her singing on the album was sultry and powerful while putting together a cohesive collection of songs.

Asa - Asha (2007)

Asa is a rare talent. Her songwriting is adroit and she’s got ears for mellow folk melodies with pop appeal. She sings about troubles on Jailer & Fire On the Mountain but the warmth of her voice and Cobhams Asuquo’s bright instrumentation conjures hope of a change. The transitions and varied melodies on So Beautiful is crooned to exonerate motherhood. On debut album Asha, she used vivid descriptions to create songs that portray humane pictures that sound strikingly personal.

Noname - Room 25 (2018)

Room 25, follow up to Noname’s debut mixtape, Telefone, released this September is filled with humorous quips and intimate rhymes that tell vivid stories. She first drew attention with a sparkling guest berth on Chance the Rapper’s Lost. She has honed her craft since then and the singing and arrangement on Prayers Song sounds like it could fling heaven gates wide open. She croons sweetly to be remembered on Don’t Forget About Me. She tackles racial prejudice with poise on socially motivated Blaxploitation.

Noname is an engaging character, a part of Chicago’s booming poetry community. It’s evident in her music as she’s less hardspitting and more deliberate, thoughtful, full of witty sayings leaning into heavy jazz & neo-soul.

Listen to the full WCW playlist on Apple music

Previously on Women Chune Wednesdays:

WCW EP.6 - Queen Latifah, Angélique Kidjo & Adele

WCW EP.5 - Teyana Taylor, Beyoncé & Davina Oriakhi

WCW EP.4 - Nina Simone, Florence Welch & Joyce Olong

WCW EP.3 - Lady Donli, Nicki Minaj & Solange

WCW EP.2 - Amy Winehouse, Bebe Rexha & Amaarae

WCW EP.1 - Dami Oniru, Rapsody & Kali Uchis