Avaion and Sofiya Nzau’s First Collaboration, “Wacuka,” Empowers Afro and Electro Soul

“Wacuka,” the eagerly awaited new single from German electronic musician AVAION and Kenyan singer Sofiya Nzau, transcends continents with the sole purpose of moving mind, body, and soul. available on Sony Music right now.

“Wacuka,” an ID that begs to be fully experienced, has generated a great deal of demand on social media in the weeks preceding its debut. The song’s initial release during AVAION’s For The Vibes live Fall 2024 tour won over fans’ admiration. This attracted the attention of prominent figures in the scene, such as superstar DJ and producer Calvin Harris, after clips of it went viral. Now that “Wacuka” is finally within listeners’ grasp, everyone can enjoy its radiance.

“Wacuka,” true to its respective founders, is a rich fusion of Sofiya Nzau’s captivating vocal ability and AVAION’s distinctive analogue production approach. AVAION opens with a potpourri of melancholy keys before deftly incorporating live percussion rhythms into the soundtrack to bring the Afro infusion to life. AVAION’s incredible synth work is a cornerstone of his identity as a producer. The sensuous tension that rises, layered with pink noise, dumps “Wacuka” into massive rhythm drops that define the song and make the sunset cruiser, late-night listener, and after-hours clubber lose themselves entirely.

According to Sofiya Nzau, her potent lyricism narrates a tale of “discovering freedom while respecting one’s heritage.” “Wacuka is about the tension between choosing to follow tradition and expressing individuality,” the author writes, compelled to examine the confirmative dynamic that young African girls encounter in particular. Although many people can relate to this sensation, I wanted the lyrics to convey both the difficulty and the hope.

AVAION delves deeply into the resonance between pain and pleasure. Multi-platinum producer, instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer AVAION is well-known throughout the world for their heartfelt releases that are “for dancing or for dreaming, depending on what you’re feeling.” Notable songs including “Other Side” with BUNT and the breakthrough single and Sony Music debut “Pieces,” which has had over 200 million streams to date, have soundtracked numerous dance floors. When looking back on the past 12 months, the excitement surrounding AVAION has increased. After celebrating the release of his first album, Selfreflection, AVAION embarked on his first headline tour throughout Europe, where his unique live performance proved to be a sell-out success and was documented in unforgettable audience moments without the use of a smartphone.

“Hear it” is the motto. Look at it. Live it. Through her musical talent, Sofiya Nzau is able to see the world around her. Sofiya Nzau’s signature impacts on her collaborations include her warm-toned voice, rich storytelling, and proud representation of her African roots. The 2023 hit song “Mwaki,” featuring Brazilian DJ/producer Zerb, is evidence of this. The song has received over 227 million Spotify plays, was previously the most popular Shazamed song globally, and has been heavily remixed by Franky Wah, Tiësto, and Major Lazer. Since then, Sofiya Nzau has combined her sound with those of artists such as Robbie Williams, Don Diablo, Bob Sinclar, Fireboy DML, Nomcebo Zikode, and now AVAION.

“Wacuka” is, in AVAION’s own words, “the German-Kenyan collaboration you didn’t know you needed.”