In early November, Asake made history by becoming the first African artist to headline the U.S. edition of the Red Bull Symphonic, and the results were majestic. Stepping onto the stage in a tailored, steel-gray three-piece suit, perfectly matching the event’s formal dress code. Beyond the music, the night highlighted Asake’s incredible versatility; he has completely reinvented his aesthetic in short intervals—moving from his iconic locs to an afro, then blue hair, and finally his current clean-shaven look, which seems to suit his new direction best.
DREW GURIAN / RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Asake’s performance stood out from typical Afrobeats shows because of how he dared to weave contrasting genres into his hits. Most notably, he reimagined ‘Joha’ through the lens of Salsa and Latin Jazz. The stage was further elevated by a star-studded lineup of collaborators including Wizkid, Tiakola, Fridayy, and Gunna. For his fanbase, the Giran Republic, the night was a revelation; the orchestral arrangements allowed them to rediscover old favorites and fall in love with his artistry all over again and brought in new “Giran republicans”.
DREW GURIAN / RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Watch the full event below
