In our review of Kold AF’s sophomore EP, Kaution, we noted her unwavering confidence and self-belief in her ability. Her confidence is palpable in every song on the project, most notably 365, where she delivers a chest-thumping anthem declaring her unwavering dedication to building her syndicate, her self-assurance palpable in every line.
A sense of unshakeable confidence resonates through her tone during our hour-long conversation. While her confidence is one of her artistry’s strongest anchors, she was never confident growing up. “I used to be very shy, very timid. Timid is the best word because shyness doesn’t do justice to how I was. I kind of had to grow from being timid, and different things happened too because of that. And even when I had grown a little bit, I wasn’t still confident in the full meaning. Confidence doesn’t just show up. You have to act it out. And so I started acting confident. And it was very helpful, now I’m at the point where there’s nothing anybody can tell me,” she says.
Among the vanguard of female Afropop singers, Kold AF stands out, bringing fresh energy and excitement to the scene. Blessed with range and versatility that knows no limits, as well as powerful vocals and a sharp pen, Kold Af has become one of the women disrupting the industry with her talents and a bit of feminine angst. However, before she became Kold AF, she was Koel.
From Koel to Kold AF, finding her identity
In the early days, Aninooritsewarami Alero Oritsesan, best known as Kold AF, identified as Koel, was inspired by her love for the Asian koel, an Asian singing bird species native to Asia, traditionally held in high regard for its song having inspired musical compositions and lyrics as well as influencing regional music and poetry across Asia. While search engine optimisation intensified the need for a change, there was a need to evolve into something more resonating. Hence the subsequent evolution into Kold AF.
Confidence doesn’t just show up. You have to act it out. And so I started acting confident. And it was very helpful, now I’m at the point where there’s nothing anybody can tell me.
Kold AF, 2024.
For gifted artists like Kold AF, finding their identity and distinctive voice can be a steep climb, especially for those with little or no guidance. She tells us about her difficulties in finding subjects to sing about and being confused about what she wanted to do and how she wanted to present herself to the world. Her manager, Excel Joab, provided this guiding presence when he came on board. Regardless, she still had to figure out what she wanted, and that was exactly what she did. “And I just ultimately asked myself the question. What is it that you like for your sound? What will be the foundational genres for you? Since you don’t want to do one, you want to bring them together. I’m a fusion artist. I would always be somebody who blends genres. I will have different eras. These are things I figured out on the way. I really like R&B, I really like Dancehall, and I like Afropop, so let’s do the three. My music will always have elements of these three genres, even if it’s just a line or two that has a little bit of patois, the beat that has a little bit, or the delivery in pidgin, there’s always elements of all these three genres.” she tells us.
Racism doesn’t make sense to me. Tribalism is one of the most stupid things that has ever existed. Because you’re being angry at the white man for treating you badly for being black, and then you go to your fellow man and treat him badly for being another tribe.
Kold AF, 2024.
In an artist’s career, there are recognizable defining moments that, at multiple points, determine the success or failures of said artist. Despite only being a few years into her career, Kold AF has had a number of pivotal moments in her career, including the moment she decided to pursue music full-time.
Kold AF is a graduate of law at the renowned Obafemi Awolowo University. While she was good at it, she realised she didn’t have the same passion and drive as her counterparts in school. “The first realisation was, I didn’t have the ginger that these people have. That was the first indicator that something was wrong. Because these people are out here educating themselves before class. They are so excited. They know everything. I just want to be home. I just want to listen to music,” she tells us.
I really like R&B, I really like Dancehall, and I like Afropop, so let’s do the three. My music will always have elements of these three genres, even if it’s just a line or two that has a little bit of patois, the beat that has a little bit, or the delivery in pidgin, there’s always elements of all these three genres.
Kold AF, 2024.
She then met Aisosa, who acknowledged her exceptional gift and encouraged her to nurture it further. “Once he knew I could sing, he stayed on the matter. Because he was in the music department, he was always involving me in activities that just made me enjoy music. Music is my happy place, I love it, it’s fun. So that led me to the point where, after some time, I decided I was going to do music.”
Another one of those pivotal moments was finding success as Koel when her song Shimmer was featured on an episode of The L Word: Generation Q, a placement she never expected or lobbied for. “We literally woke up one day and we just started seeing that the streams were spiking, this is an abnormal amount of streams. We were not doing anything to market the song, so we had to start finding the source. The producer found out that the song was on the L word, I thought he was joking until he sent a screen recording, I was like, Bro, this thing is on L word right now.“
However, the most important of these moments was her taking a step back and prioritising her artistic development. She tells us the break was essential because she felt like she wasn’t doing what she felt like she could do. “Imagine hearing potential, but you’re not hearing the finished product,” she says. She would eventually return with a two-single pack titled Kold Szn, which launched a bold new chapter in her music career.
Kaution EP, Dancehall and Paying Respects to Cynthia Morgan
Her sophomore EP Kaution saw her delve deeper into her artistic expression as she explored Dancehall in depth. Kold AF’s highly anticipated EP was a long time coming with the artist tantalising fans on X (formerly Twitter) with promises of a Dancehall era. A collaborative two-single pack with Aema would eventually inadvertently sidetrack the project. She explains that the creative process was a go-with-the-flow approach with no predetermined blueprint. “We just were making good music that we really liked,” she says. One of the first songs created for the EP was Manyana, an upbeat, rhythmically charged Afropop record featuring snappy snares, infectious basslines, catchy guitar riffs, and atmospheric synths with cinematic visuals to match.
I knew that people would liken me to [Cynthia Morgan], because she’s the woman that did it best and she was the most popular for it. And when I made ‘365’, I was paying homage to her. Because I feel like she didn’t get enough time to shine.
Kold AF, 2024.
The record is easily one of the best Nigerian records of 2024. Her manager and A&R Excel Joab was the spark that ignited the record, with him suggesting they create something bright and uplifting. Whilst Kold AF’s preference is darker emotional chords, she was receptive to his idea. It was Remy Baggins however who crystallised the vision for this record, offering Kold the ideal backdrop to breathe life into the song. The record touches on themes of self-care and mental health as Kold discusses the importance of taking a break, slowing down, healing, recharging, and unwinding, which she says she takes very seriously. ‘Any small, nice enjoyment, like this. You go see me there. I’m not even lying to you right now.’ she says. She seizes every free moment to watch her favourite shows and live in the moment.
It’s unavoidable to draw parallels between Kold AF and Cynthia Morgan, whose DNA runs deep in this project. Kaution is a remarkable display of confidence, melodious meanderings, charisma, and a strong command of Patois. These qualities Cynthia Morgan displayed in no small proportions as she conquered the music industry. Upon listening to Kaution, it seemed that Kold was stepping into the space vacated by Cynthia Morgan. We asked her if this was a deliberate move and if Cynthia Morgan’s shaped her artistic vision. “Not necessarily,” she modestly replied. However, she showered Cynthia Morgan with praise, acknowledging her talent and impact. “I knew that people would liken me to her, because she’s the woman that did it best and she was the most popular for it. And when I made ‘365’, I was paying homage to her. Because I feel like she didn’t get enough time to shine. On the second verse, there’s a melody that you would hear that reminds you of Cynthia Morgan. It was done on purpose because she’s her.’
When we asked her to identify her biggest creative influences, she joked that her voracious music consumption complicates the process of identifying her primary influences. Despite the challenge, she shared a few notable influences, citing Sean Paul, Rihanna, Asa, and Burna Boy as influences.
Her fashion and passion for Social Issues
Kold’s fashion choices are dynamic avant-garde statements that scream bold defiance and express modern youth culture and stylistic freedom. Her outfits blend natural beauty with modern aesthetics, using minimal accessories for a raw, elemental vibe. Our conversation turns towards her style and the importance of fashion in expressing her artistic identity.
“Fashion is a big part of my identity. I discovered that I love to design before I even discovered that I love music. I used to always sketch for my mom. I used to sketch for people randomly in school. It’s very big for me. Music and fashion go hand in hand for me, I discovered that I can actually put both together and live out my two passions with my music as a launchpad,” she says.
She also shares a similar passion for social issues. Her goal is to weave social consciousness into her brand’s identity. “Not to say that I am on the highest moral compass, or I am the best person on this planet. It’s just that I feel strongly about certain things, especially when it comes to the treatment of people, and people’s rights.I feel very strongly about these things.”
On No Pity, with Aema, Jamz, and Amarkah, the quartet paints a picture of a scenario where a rapist escapes justice, and they are driven to protect society and ensure accountability. On Cycle Must Break, she delivers a passionate plea to humanity to develop a culture of compassion, empathy, and mutual understanding.
“Racism doesn’t make sense to me. Tribalism is one of the most stupid things that has ever existed. Because you’re being angry at the white man for treating you badly for being black, and then you go to your fellow man and treat him badly for being another tribe. Can we make it make sense? Tribalism shouldn’t exist. Politicians who saw other politicians stealing money and didn’t like it at that time, now they are doing the same thing. We, the common man, don’t like tribalism. Yet, it was still millennials and Gen Zs jumping on this tribalism thing when the elections happened. It’s a cycle. It’s happening over and over again? And that’s why the hook is what it is. The cycle must break.”
Fashion is a big part of my identity. I discovered that I love to design before I even discovered that I love music. I used to always sketch for my mom. I used to sketch for people randomly in school. It’s very big for me.
Kold AF, 2024.
Throughout our conversation, her glowing personality shines through. She responds to my questions in depth and offers valuable perspectives, showcasing her intelligence, empathy, and passion for music. To conclude our discussion, we ask her the things that top her list of gratitude
“I’m grateful for life, and I’m grateful for the people I have in my circle,” she tells me.
