The Testimony That Created The Sound, with Adwoa

Written By Giovanna Natty

Adwoa sits down to reflect on her journey, discussing growing pains, Afro-fusion, and the powerful testimony that solidified her calling to pursue music. The 23-year-old PG County native has been sharing her unique sound and expanding her presence throughout the DMV.

She grew up in the church, deeply inspired by soulful gospel artists which heavily influenced her music—especially in "My Testimony." Based on a true experience her testimony came from what was supposed to be a quick surgery turning into a one week trial of worry and waiting in the ICU. During that time, her prayers for healing shaped the heartfelt lyrics of the song. The line, "So pray I make it far so I can see my testimony," captures her journey of faith and recovery. She felt saved.

When discussing her musical influences, she names legends like Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, and Anita Baker. In the Afrobeats scene, she highlights artists like Asake, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Fireboy, enthusiastically stating, "I love Fireboy, he's amazing." She also mentions Rema, expressing her desire to collaborate with him one day.

Adwoa describes her sound as Afro-fusion, blending elements of R&B, Neo-Soul, and Gospel, which have deeply shaped her musical style. She reflects on how music has consistently reconnected her to her cultural roots, especially during pivotal moments in her life. It wasn’t until the visit to her hometown in Ghana in December of 2020 that peeled her eyes to the appreciation of why the afrobeat sound needs to be spread. Fortunately, her uncle had a studio in his backyard. But it wasn’t just access to the studio—it was being home with family, walking around the city, and observing how people in Africa appreciate the simple things in life that reaffirmed how she'll move forward with her music.

She credits her mother and late father as her motivations. Following her father’s path as a musician, she believes music was always her calling, just as he did. For Adwoa, success is defined by retiring her mother, whom she praises as her strongest supporter. “She always reminds me, ‘I’m your mom and that’s just what it is.’” her mom expresses. From performances, listening to her unreleased songs, and ignoring negative comments about Adwoa, her mom embodies unwavering love and encouragement.

Experimenting with new sounds can be both challenging and uncertain, a feeling Adwoa knows well. Growing up in the DMV the community is familiar with a certain rap sound so initially there was a fear of how her evolving sound would be received. But staying true to herself, she embraced singing and connecting with her cultural music sounds. “The things that mean a lot to me now are seeping through my music. Not saying I wasn’t being transparent when I was rapping but I feel like it’s a whole different vibe for me when I’m able to sing and do afrobeats. That’s just where I come from and it feels true to me,” she explained.

How do you hope to leave an impact on the music world and beyond?

“I want people to listen to my music and feel heard. I want them to feel at home and I want my music to be a light towards everyone. I feel like that’s how music should be, music is just communication and I want whatever I’m communicating to bring joy into people’s lives,” she replied.

Her Gifted Gab says…

One of the best parts about interviewing creatives in the DMV is seeing the range of talent each individual brings to the community. It takes true dedication and skill to find a sound that sets you apart as a musician. Like Adwoa, we all grow within our craft, and it’s exciting to see how someone I’ve heard of for a while now is now someone whose story I know and music I admire. It’s impressive to see her headline platforms and I hope we all reach those stages we envision for ourselves one day. P.S. I’m going to make sure I don’t miss the next music video so I can live out my fantasy of being a cute video girl. Lol!

Giovanna Natty
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