Y'akoto
Jennifer Yaa Akoto Kieck (born 1988), known professionally as Y'akoto, is a German-Ghanaian singer and songwriter whose music blends neo-soul, blues, ambient pop, and Afrobeats.[1][2] Her first two albums, Babyblues (2012) and Moody Blues (2014), both entered the Top 20 on the German albums chart, and she has received two nominations for Germany's Echo Award.[3]
Early life and education
Y'akoto was born in Hamburg, Germany, to a Ghanaian father, a highlife musician, and a German mother.[4] She spent much of her childhood in West Africa, living in Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, and Togo before returning to Hamburg at the age of 11.[5][6] During this time, she began singing and learning to play the piano.[6]
After completing secondary school, she studied dance education and became a qualified dance teacher in 2008 before deciding to pursue a career in music.[4]
Career
Y'akoto began performing in her teens and formed her first band at 13.[7] She signed with Warner Music and released her debut album, Babyblues, in March 2012.[5] The album reached the Top 20 in Germany and included the single "Tamba," a song about a child soldier.[7] In 2013, she received an Echo Award nomination for Best National Rock/Pop Female Artist.[8]
Her second album, Moody Blues, was released in 2014 and debuted at number 11 on the German charts.[5] The album addressed topics such as migration and single-parent families. Its release led to a second Echo Award nomination in the same category in 2015.[9]
In 2017, she released her third album, Mermaid Blues, which blended blues, neo-soul, and pop.[5][3] In 2020, Y'akoto released the EP Obaa Yaa. A year later, in 2021, she was featured in Matthew Herbert’s single “The Way”.[10] In 2022–2023, she collaborated with Los Angeles-based producer Nabeyin and Ghanaian rapper Jay Bahd on the singles "Secret" and "WMYT (What Made You Think)".[11]
Her fourth studio album, Part 4: The Witch, was released in July 2024.[12] The album featured collaborations with Nabeyin and U.S. hip-hop artist REASON and incorporated pop and Afrobeats styles.[13][14]
Discography
Studio albums
- Babyblues (2012)
- Moody Blues (2014)
- Mermaid Blues (2017)
- Part 4: The Witch (2024)
EPs
- Obaa Yaa (2020)
Awards and recognition
Y'akoto has twice been nominated for the Echo Award for Best National Rock/Pop Female Artist, first in 2013 and again in 2015.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Exclusive Q&A with Ghanaian Songstress, Y'akoto". Glamour.
- ^ "5 Minutes with Ghanaian singer Y'akoto". GQ.
- ^ a b "Y'akoto – Soul music from Hamburg". Deutsche Welle.
- ^ a b Nartey, Stephen (March 24, 2023). "Y'akoto, the soul singer using the concept of mermaids to idolize the strength of women". Face2Face Africa.
- ^ a b c d "Y'akoto profile". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Steinhoff, Nane (May 31, 2017). "Y'akoto - A mermaid rising from water to fame".
- ^ a b "Y'akoto – laut.de – Band".
- ^ a b "Die Nominierten - Echo 2013 - ARD | Das Erste". www.daserste.de.
- ^ a b https://www.warnermusic.de/news/2015-02-26/echo-2015-nominierungen-und-live-acts-bekannt-gegeben
- ^ Minsker, Evan (May 12, 2021). "Herbert Announces New Album Musca, Shares New Song Featuring Y'akoto". Pitchfork.
- ^ Hussain, Shahzaib (October 4, 2023). "Y'akoto Serves Up Afrobeats Alchemy on 'Dreambug'".
- ^ Borcholte, Andreas (July 12, 2024). "Album der Woche mit »The Death of Slim Shady« von Eminem: Ein Mordsspaß" – via www.spiegel.de.
- ^ Staff, Wonderland (July 10, 2024). "Y'akoto - "Part 4: The Witch"".
- ^ "Y'akoto kündigt viertes Albums "Part 4: The Witch" an » TONSPION". April 10, 2024.