AWEN
In Celtic mythology, everyone knows the magical AWEN, but there are
disagreements about what it is and, mostly, what it can do.
Some believe it’s a spirit that gives glimpses of the future, while others
affirm it’s a symbol of balance between opposites. However, for most
people, it is a woman, the muse of creativity - and the artists she
touches act like they were possessed.
When singer-songwriter AWEN chose this name, she wasn’t aware of
these implications. But, strangely, she couldn’t have picked a better one:
she embodies all of these ideas.
AWEN has always navigated between distant worlds. Born in Paris from
a French mother and a Malian-Senegalese father, she’s long been torn
between her passion for singing and her successful career in Hong Kong
as a lawyer. But when her father passed away in 2016, she decided to
give up her job and move back to France to try to become a professional
artist.
Building upon her cultural heritage and her musical tastes (she grew up
listening to artists such as Nina Simone, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye),
AWEN started to produce her unique style of Afro-house. It mixed
electronic instrumentation with timeless melodies - and a touch of
spirituality.
“In Western Africa, our family name has a special perception”, she
explains. “It’s the name of a legendary sorcerer king; that’s why I
describe myself as an Afro-house witch”, she laughs, before adding: “but
I mostly like the fact that, nowadays, witches have become icons of
feminism and freedom.”
In 2019, AWEN released her first solo album, Redemption. It was
followed by 6 EPs and singles, including collaborations with upcoming
afro-house stars such as Floyd Lavine, Daniel Rateuke or Enoo Napa. It
includes “Your Voice” with Caiiro (2020), a song that channels raw
feelings of faith, love and hope with such intensity that many listeners
wondered if the lyrics were about God - AWEN actually wrote them as a
letter to her son, who was unborn yet.
“Your Voice” gained a cult status that made it unescapable among house
fans - with the exception of Adam Port. Strangely enough, the legendary
DJ/producer only heard it for the first time two years after its release (!),
while he was in a bar in Istanbul. Impressed, he shazamed it and
proposed to produce a remix. Released in 2022, his version confirmed
the song as a global sensation: it dominated the Beatport charts and
took Coachella by storm when AWEN performed it on stage.
“My son was born after I wrote “Your Voice” for him”, she says. “All the
blessings I get from this song... I feel like they are gifts from him.”
With her other hits “Gold” and “Kusimama”, plus a release on legendary
label DFTD (“Time”, with Christoph), AWEN’s futuristic blend of
empowering lyrics and mysterious universe seduces an ever-growing
global audience. “My dad came from Africa, my mom is European, and I
lived several years in Asia. I feel like I belong everywhere”, she says with
a smile.
One of the other reasons of AWEN’s success is her ability to transcend
her repertoire on stage. Standing at 1m83 (6 ft.) with her signature
braids and a deep voice, the artist is a commanding presence that
captivates concertgoers across the world. “I’m mixing, I’m singing, I’m
proposing a visual experience”, she details. “I want my performances to
be a whole experience. I want to give Afro House the global visibility it
deserves.”
It might just be a question of time. Because when your name is a call to
the divine, some things are just meant to be.
AWEN
In Celtic mythology, everyone knows the magical AWEN, but there are
disagreements about what it is and, mostly, what it can do.
Some believe it’s a spirit that gives glimpses of the future, while others
affirm it’s a symbol of balance between opposites. However, for most
people, it is a woman, the muse of creativity - and the artists she
touches act like they were possessed.
When singer-songwriter AWEN chose this name, she wasn’t aware of
these implications. But, strangely, she couldn’t have picked a better one:
she embodies all of these ideas.
AWEN has always navigated between distant worlds. Born in Paris from
a French mother and a Malian-Senegalese father, she’s long been torn
between her passion for singing and her successful career in Hong Kong
as a lawyer. But when her father passed away in 2016, she decided to
give up her job and move back to France to try to become a professional
artist.
Building upon her cultural heritage and her musical tastes (she grew up
listening to artists such as Nina Simone, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye),
AWEN started to produce her unique style of Afro-house. It mixed
electronic instrumentation with timeless melodies - and a touch of
spirituality.
“In Western Africa, our family name has a special perception”, she
explains. “It’s the name of a legendary sorcerer king; that’s why I
describe myself as an Afro-house witch”, she laughs, before adding: “but
I mostly like the fact that, nowadays, witches have become icons of
feminism and freedom.”
In 2019, AWEN released her first solo album, Redemption. It was
followed by 6 EPs and singles, including collaborations with upcoming
afro-house stars such as Floyd Lavine, Daniel Rateuke or Enoo Napa. It
includes “Your Voice” with Caiiro (2020), a song that channels raw
feelings of faith, love and hope with such intensity that many listeners
wondered if the lyrics were about God - AWEN actually wrote them as a
letter to her son, who was unborn yet.
“Your Voice” gained a cult status that made it unescapable among house
fans - with the exception of Adam Port. Strangely enough, the legendary
DJ/producer only heard it for the first time two years after its release (!),
while he was in a bar in Istanbul. Impressed, he shazamed it and
proposed to produce a remix. Released in 2022, his version confirmed
the song as a global sensation: it dominated the Beatport charts and
took Coachella by storm when AWEN performed it on stage.
“My son was born after I wrote “Your Voice” for him”, she says. “All the
blessings I get from this song... I feel like they are gifts from him.”
With her other hits “Gold” and “Kusimama”, plus a release on legendary
label DFTD (“Time”, with Christoph), AWEN’s futuristic blend of
empowering lyrics and mysterious universe seduces an ever-growing
global audience. “My dad came from Africa, my mom is European, and I
lived several years in Asia. I feel like I belong everywhere”, she says with
a smile.
One of the other reasons of AWEN’s success is her ability to transcend
her repertoire on stage. Standing at 1m83 (6 ft.) with her signature
braids and a deep voice, the artist is a commanding presence that
captivates concertgoers across the world. “I’m mixing, I’m singing, I’m
proposing a visual experience”, she details. “I want my performances to
be a whole experience. I want to give Afro House the global visibility it
deserves.”
It might just be a question of time. Because when your name is a call to
the divine, some things are just meant to be.