Kenya: Maya Amolo named Spotify’s first Fresh Finds Africa artist

The 23 year old, whose vocal prowess and visual compositions have earned her rave reviews in the alternative press, is now set to enjoy a career breakthrough after her work caught the ear of the streaming giant.

During the announcement on Wednesday, Spotify head of music for sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu said the monthly Fresh Finds Africa programme would shine a spotlight on emerging independent artists across the continent. 

“Fresh Finds’ artist selection is informed by a combination of data and editorial decision making with our curation team choosing artists that are showing momentum both on and off Spotify,” Okumu said.

“Spotify has always been committed to connecting fans to up-and-coming artists and the music they love. The Fresh Finds programme is an enhanced version of that.” 

The musician, who splits her time between New York and Nairobi, first ignited the imagination of music lovers with the release of her EP Leave Me At The Pregame in 2020. 

“I am honoured to be chosen as the first artist to launch Fresh Finds in Africa. This is a much needed platform for upcoming artists and I am excited for the growth that will come as a result of this,” Maya wrote on social media. 

Her 2020 single ‘I Know’, whose video was directed by her mother, Mumbi Muturi, received attention for its stunning visuals.

In 2020, she told Tangaza magazine: “F**k you, glow up after a bad relationship. The glam, the roses and the ‘perfect family portrait’ created this idea of perfection while the surrounding shows that in reality things aren’t as perfect as they may seem. In the video, I was playing the character of the woman who knows what he did, made sure her name was on the will and then proceeded to burn the house down and run away from the clownery.”

The artist, whose other successful compositions include ‘Lush Green’ and ‘Puddles’, will now take part in a one-on-one workshop on the best practices of using the Spotify platform as well as receive in-app and social media support to help her grow her fan base. 

“For an upcoming artist like Maya, this promises an increased audience and opens her up to new opportunities, which might not have been possible without Fresh Finds,” Okumu said. 

Listen to the Fresh Finds Africa playlist here.