Ghana: Florence Adooni shares debut album A.O.E.I.U ahead European tour

The album, available in LP and digital formats, follows her 70-date tour across Europe in 2023 and 2024, which included performances at major festivals such as Roskilde, Down The Rabbit Hole, End of the Road, and FMM Sines.

Adooni’s upcoming tour will see her perform in Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and Italy between May and August 2025.

The album consists of seven tracks, each reflecting a blend of influences from Kumasi highlife, jazz, funk, and contemporary African sounds. The opening track, ‘Mam Pe’ela Su’ure’ (My Heart is Pure), combines intricate guitar melodies with syncopated rhythms, horn fanfares, and layered vocal harmonies. Other tracks explore synth-bass-driven dancefloor beats (‘Vocalize My Luv’), spiritual jazz saxophone (‘A.O.E.I.U’), Ethiopian Ambassel melodies (‘Otoma Da Naba’), and fast-paced funk (‘Uh-Ah Song’).

The album was produced by German drummer Max Weissenfeldt, founder of Philophon Records, and features a new generation of highlife musicians from Kumasi. Adooni described the project as a culmination of a decade-long collaboration with Weissenfeldt.

Adooni and Weissenfeldt first crossed paths over a decade ago in Ghana. Weissenfeldt discovered her music through a self-released Frafra gospel album, Ho Sanga La Pa’aya (This Is Your Time). Their collaboration led to Adooni featuring on Philophon’s releases, including projects with Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy, singer Guy One, and Finnish saxophonist Jimi Tenor.

Weissenfeldt recalled how their first recording session in 2019, initially planned as a merchandise release for Alogte Oho’s tour, ended up as Adooni’s breakout track, ‘Mam Pe’ela Su’ure’. The song is unexpected success opened doors for her band, leading to over 70 concerts across Europe.

The album reflects Adooni’s growth as an artist, with her band performing at their peak after extensive touring. From the sweeping saxophone lines of the title track to the infectious call-and-response rhythms of ‘Uh-Ah Song’, each composition is a testament to their evolving sound.

Reflecting on the album, Adooni stated, “I’m so proud of this album. It captures the energy we’ve experienced playing live and celebrates everything we’ve built over the years. I can’t wait for people to hear it!”

With A.O.E.I.U now available and an extensive tour on the horizon, Florence Adooni continues to bring the vibrant sound of Frafra highlife to global audiences, reinforcing her position as a rising force in contemporary African music.

You can stream the album here.