Ghanaian singer Darkua named Apple Music Up Next artist

Since its start in 2017, the Up Next artist development programme has helped shine a spotlight on the next wave of musical talent, with Afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Tems among its most notable alumni.

“Being selected as Apple Music’s Up Next for Ghana feels like a dream,” Darkua said. “Knowing how it all started for me, this is a huge step in my career as an Afro-fusion artist. With my recently released single ‘ECHO’, I’m hoping to empower as many women as possible about being sexually confident and also to let them know that it is possible to take charge and go for whatever they want.”

As the latest Up Next act in Ghana, Darkua will be featured across Apple Music’s Ghana Up Next playlist. The curated Up Next playlist features a dynamic class of new and emerging artists, thoughtfully hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world. The playlist is genre-agnostic and represents a line-up of artists our global editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience.

Born Naa Darkua Chinonye Wristberg, the singer’s musical education is rooted in the artists that her parents exposed her to during her childhood, such as the late great highlife vocalist AB Crenstil, Tempos frontman ET Mensah and Afrobeat singer Lagbaja, among others.

Her debut single ‘Amalelor’, produced by Viqtorioz, arrived in 2021, with her Ghanaian and Nigerian roots providing the perfect fusion for an exploration of distinct sounds.

After taking a year to work on her craft, Darkua returned with ‘ECHO’, teaming up again with Viqtorioz on an empowering Afro-soul track detailing a woman’s expression of self-confidence.

The vast global Up Next roster of past talent includes Grammy-nominated and critically lauded talent like 6lack, H.E.R., Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish, Stefflon Don and a host of others.