Ethiopian artist Aster Awoke is set to release her 25th album, “Soba,” on the new Ethiopian streaming app Sewasew. This marks the first full-length album from Aster in three years and is expected to showcase the range and depth of her musical talent.
“Soba” is a blend of traditional Ethiopian sounds and modern production, and features collaborations with other prominent Ethiopian artists. The release of “Soba” on Sewasew is a significant event for the Ethiopian music industry. Sewasew, which launched recently, is a streaming app dedicated to promoting Ethiopian music. With its release on this platform, “Soba” will be easily accessible to fans of Aster’s music and to those interested in discovering more about the vibrant Ethiopian music scene.
Aster first gained recognition in the Ethiopian music scene for her soulful voice and thought-provoking lyrics. Growing up, she was inspired by Ethiopian musicians such as Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele, as well as international artists like Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. At the age of 13, she joined the Hager Fikir Theatre as a dancer and vocalist and began performing at clubs in Addis Ababa with various bands.
As a teenager, Aster was heavily influenced by Bizunesh Bekele and began performing songs by Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. She launched her solo career in 1977 with the release of her debut album and released three more albums within the same year. In 1981, she moved to the United States and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Washington, D.C. She briefly attended Northern Virginia Community College and studied computer science, but also pursued formal musical education which she did not enjoy. While in D.C., she performed in restaurants and clubs and released her U.S. major label debut, “Aster,” through Columbia Records in 1990.
In 1997, after more than 15 years abroad, Aster returned to Ethiopia to a warm welcome from thousands of fans at the airport in Addis Ababa. In the years following her return, she owned and operated a cafeteria in the city called Kabu, named after her song “Kabu.” The cafeteria closed its doors in 2015.
Us usual always love your Music. long live and wish to do more