Nigerian Afrobeats singer L.A.X teams up with fellow Nigerian artist DOTTi The Deity on “IYAWO,” a collaboration that connects two musicians with different musical origins.
The Yoruba term “Iyawo” means “wife” or “bride”; hence, the record is given a title that is directly related to marriage and relationships. This collaboration is especially noteworthy because DOTTi draws significantly from Yoruba traditional traditions, while L.A.X. has built much of his career around contemporary Afrobeats and Afropop.
The coupling makes for an interesting musical contrast with L.A.X., known for his melodic approach, and DOTTi for his incorporation of soul, jazz, and traditional Nigerian influences into his music. The varied artistic backgrounds make an attractive basis for the recording.
For L.A.X, working with an artist outside his typical Afropop circle provides an opportunity to connect with audiences that like both mainstream African music and culturally based songwriting. His established discography and presence across the Afrobeats industry can potentially assist the collaboration in getting more reach.
Listen to the song on major digital streaming platforms and share your thoughts on the collaboration in the comment section below.
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