Features : Bahamian artist Agajuan introduces R&B-pop-hip-hop fusion with new release “Solar”

Bahamian artist Agajuan is continuing his debut on the international music scene with his second release this year, “Solar”.

“What I love about this track is that it sounds nothing like anything on the radio right now,” he said. “I feel like I’m breaking new ground. It’s a complex song. Some say that it sounds like many different songs in one. People aren’t used to this kind of R&B and pop music, and I’m excited.”

The R&B side of “Solar” is slow, soft and sensuous as Agajuan sings a love story in which the lovers draw energy from each other. The pop is in the beat and the melody.

It's like you entered me 
Reached in and centered me 
When you charge me up 
It’s like you’re solar

And suddenly, hip-hop drives in over the bridge, followed by some heavy synth distortion in the vocals.

“I think that that’s one of my favorite parts of the song,” said Agajuan.

“I like the fact that ‘Solar’ is very offbeat, and it has this very obscure production style that is otherworldly and full of vibrant instruments and beats.”

Agajuan is from a small village about nine miles west of Nassau.

The village was established, he said, by Africans liberated when the slave trade was abolished in all the British territories in 1807.

“It was the kind of place everyone knew everyone, like, your neighbor would probably be your auntie or grammy.”

It was, in that way, limiting, and even more so when the only music allowed at home was Christian music, nothing secular.

That kind of music came at parties in the village or down the road, or in high school.

“I spent my lunch breaks in the computer lab listening to new genres and styles of music.”

The artists he heard there, such as Frank Ocean, SZA, André 3000 and Tyler, the Creator, “influenced my style of non-traditional Bahamian music.”

The rich cultural history of his hometown and the arts — music, photography, graphic design — all combined to ignite his interest at an early age.

“It was such a small village,” he said, “but I always loved exploring and experimenting in new ways. I’m a creative, and I get bored easily, so, trying new things and adding experiences and skills is always a thrill for me, and each of these disciplines has honed my skills and allowed me to build a versatile and dynamic artistic portfolio.”

But his earliest memories are infused with music.

“My mother often tells how I would spontaneously break into song, reflecting my mood of the moment, whether I was sleepy, hungry or jubilant, whatever the mood was.”

In his official bio, he says, “It was in these moments that I discovered the transformative power of music and its ability to evoke emotion and connect people on a deeper level.”

He is building his musical portfolio. His first effort, “S.T.F.U.,” is a minute and a half that showcases the beginnings of his unique mix of R&B, pop and hip-hop.

That song preceded “Solar” by a couple of years. The launch into this current phase of his music career came last year, when he was discovered by the Bahamian artist Rashad Leamount.

“He saw my potential and thought I was super talented, and that I reminded him of his early days. He became my mentor and gave me tools and tips to guide me in making decisions on my career.”

Rashad also gave him “Solar.”

“It was something that he had written in draft, and he let me hear it for the first time. I just instantly fell in love with it, and I knew that it was going to be something special.”

He has been developing “Solar” over the last year, “changing and evolving each time we touched it.” Rashad checked in regularly.

“‘Solar’ is a captivating song that embodies the essence of embracing one’s true self and radiating love and brilliance,” he said. “It encourages listeners to remove anything that doesn’t align with their passion, allowing them to embrace a new energy and shine at the solar flare.”

He says of his music, “I am committed to working really hard not only to uplift myself, but also to support others who are joining with me in alternative music spaces where Black people have been underrepresented.”

After “Solar,” he plans his first EP, to be released early next year, and then he wants to release his debut album, and his style will include more than R&B and pop.

“I like to describe myself as a jack of all trades. I am multifascinated, and I can do rock, I can do soul, neo-soul, alternative, indie. I feel right now, and I want other people to know, that there’s nothing out of reach or too far-fetched. Whatever you believe and work hard towards — without letting the voices and the noise get in — you can achieve. Don’t let anyone dictate your art.”

Connect to Agajuan on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

Amazon Music
Apple Music 
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