Asa
Whilst billed as ‘So Frenchy, So Chic Live’, there wasn’t that much traditionally French that joined last night’s Sessions’ performers Asa and Fefe other than perhaps the broken English.
Raised in Nigeria, Asa (pronounced Arrr – (as one would in the dentist’s chair) – sharrr (said with emotion)) arrived in a white lace top and enchanted her full house audience of committed admirers of all manner of ages with a tight set of modern folk, picking up where she left us at last year’s WOMAD. Bringing the crowd in often and having her band members do their solos at her feet, Asa’s stunning looks commanded the stage and her voice dominated The Space with a mix of passion and aggression, with lyrics that crossed over often from the optimism of youth to the realities of the world.
Born to Nigerian parents, Fefe turned up the amps after the break between shows and having cast off most of the older members of Asa’s audience (who no doubt saw merit in watching yet more tennis) let loose with a powerhouse of hip-hop interlaced with rap, funk, soul and blues.
Even more than with Asa, the audience completely reverted to WOMAD type, casting off shoes and leaping around like they were on the Botanical Gardens lawn, especially when Fefe immersed himself amongst them.
While seemingly quite different genres, their connectedness beyond France, did manifest itself when Asa joined Fefe on stage albeit for just one number.
This was happy, vibrant world music and their returns to Adelaide, especially if again on the open air stages of WOMAD, will be certain to be warmly embraced.
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