Singer-songwriter Ananya Birla has established herself as one of the most exciting new artists on the international pop scene. After her previous release ‘Unstoppable‘ which was a woman empowering anthem, Ananya has dropped her latest song ‘Blackout’ where she is collaborating with two of Nigeria’s biggest artists, rap star Vector and electrofusion act WurlD.
The pop/hip-hop fusion ‘Blackout’, which Ananya co-wrote with Angela Hunte (Empire State of Mind) is the first single from her highly-anticipated debut EP ‘Fingerprint’ (releasing on May 17). It is released via Universal Music Group and supported by Island Records, UK. It is one of the first major collaborations between major artists from India and Nigeria, and is accompanied by an animated lyric video, available on YouTube.
In this new dynamic new track, Ananya joins delivers a breezy blend of pop and hip-hop. The DJ Buddha (Pitbull, Jason Derulo, Shakira) – produced ‘Blackout’ layers Ananya’s slick vocals over an agile beat, before giving way to the Lagosian rap duo.
WurlD is an American – Nigerian singer and songwriter. He began his career after moving to the US for studies and recording his own music, described by VIBE as electro-fusion. His debut EP Evolution was released in 2013. Later, he went on to work with the likes of Akon, B.O.B, Mario, Trinidad James. Vector is a Nigerian Hip hop artist who has released 3 studio albums, including State of Surprise (SOS) and the Second Coming (2012). He is the voice behind the Sprite commercial that has aired on most radio stations across Nigeria since 2009.
Speaking on the new single, Ananya explains, “’Blackout’ is all about taking a step back from the relentless pace of the modern world. It took me a while, but I’ve realized that life isn’t about racing to the finish line, it’s about savoring every step of the journey.” She further added, “I had always wanted to incorporate rap and hip hop into one of my songs, and it was awesome to work with Vector and WurlD on this. I’m a big believer that music is the ultimate global language and collaborating with artists from all over the world is a big part of that.”
On the collaboration, WurlD said, “Heard Ananya for the first time on the rough draft of ‘Blackout’ and I knew instantly she had something special. I’m honored to be a part of this great record.” Vector further added, “The world needs more voices like ours and Ananya did amazing with this record. It is an absolute pleasure to have joined voices with her and WurlD on this art piece.”
Crafting pop anthems with a strong dose of fiery female empowerment, Ananya is a truly unique talent. Since breaking onto the scene in late-2017, Ananya, who was recently listed as one of GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians, has already racked up over 150 million streams and became the first homegrown artist singing in English to ever gain Platinum status in India, a feat she went on to achieve with her last five releases. She has collaborated with artists such as Afrojack, Jim Beanz, and Mood Melodies. She has also performed at some of the major Indian concerts including Global Citizen, Oktoberfest, and Sunburn, which is Asia’s biggest electronic music festival.
Outside of music, Ananya is a strong believer in equality. She also promotes female empowerment through her business ‘Svatantra’ (meaning ‘freedom’ in Hindi) which helps women entrepreneurs in rural India grow their businesses and become financially independent. She has also founded a mental health organization, Mpower which was launched after she battled her own issues. She works towards dispelling the stigma associated with mental health illnesses and providing care in India.
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