Adekunle Gold, the Nigerian singer, who’s set to release his sixth studio album, ‘Fuji’, on October 3, has shared the emotional story behind one of the tracks, “Simile,” which means “rest on me” in Yoruba.
The singer shared the emotional story behind the song with his fans via email, explaining his emotions when he came up with the song, how he felt after the song was done and his expression after rejection by Beyoncé.
In 2019, Gold’s manager encouraged him to return to the studio, and he submitted “Simile” to Beyoncé’s team for her Lion King project- an opportunity which was meant to be a career defining opportunity. However, the song held a deeper significance for Gold, as it was written during one of the darkest moments of his life, shortly after losing his father.
His mail read: “I know it sounded crazy when I said I’ve been working on this album for over five years, but it’s true. The oldest song on the album came out of one of the most life changing moments of my life. It was in twenty nineteen.
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“I was in Lagos, though I couldn’t tell you what the day looked like. I don’t remember if it was morning or night, sunny or rainy, grief has a way of numbing even your senses. My manager at that time had been calling me everyday, urging me to get back in the studio. Beyonce’s team had reached out, they wanted me to write for her Lion King project. Under different circumstances, I would have been overjoyed. But I had just lost my father, and in that moment, even music felt like a weight. My whole world had collapsed.
“But one day, I forced myself to get up, to try, to write. I sat in my small studio at home, picked up my mic and let everything I was feeling pour out. That’s the day I wrote Simile.
Simile in quote means “rest on me, lean on me” in Yoruba. It wasn’t just a song, it was my grief, my confusion, my cry for direction. When I finished, I knew it was far too personal to give away. Still, we sent it to Beyonce’s team, and I secretly prayed it wouldn’t make the final cut. It didn’t, and so Simile stayed hidden on a hard drive for years.”
The song will feature on his upcoming album, Fuji. Fans have been reacting to his mail online, appreciating him for sharing his emotional moments with them;
Diekola wrote: “Got the mail. Like a child leans on his father, I’m reminded to always lean on God for strength and comfort. Thank you for always, Big Fish”
“The mail I got from @adekunleGOLD was everything I didn’t know I needed. The pain of losing someone to uncertainty of if you’re on the right path, then to taking a minute to actually rest and give yourself grace. I really needed those words you gave. Thank you,” Arewa shared.
“Hi Adekunle, @adekunleGOLD Thank you for sharing your story and for opening up about Simile. It really touched me, and I could relate to your words about grief and leaning on God. I’m excited for the FUJI album and can’t wait to listen on October 3rd! Much love, Barakat,” Baroqah wrote.