Nigerian artist Asake has released a concert film and live album, M$NEY Live in London (Spotify Live), captured during his one-night-only orchestral performance at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane last month.
Exclusive Live Album and Film
The project documents a private show staged for top fans, friends, and family, where Asake performed tracks from his chart-topping album M$NEY live for the first time. Backed by an orchestra of more than 40 musicians, the set included hits from the album alongside five unreleased songs. The concert film, directed by Becky Garner, and the audio-only live album are now streaming exclusively on Spotify.
Asake on His Creative Journey
Asake described the intimate performance as a meaningful moment. “It means so much to me. Being able to bring the journey I went on creating the album to life on stage for the first time, in front of fans who show me the most love on Spotify, was amazing,” he said. “I like intimate shows, I can see how people feel more. I’m so close to them, and I can see how people vibe to my music. That night at Drury Lane felt exactly like that, even with thousands of people in the room.”
Reflecting on the album’s themes, he added:
M$NEY is a reflection of my spiritual and creative journey. Everything flows from a place of gratitude to God and every moment that’s shaped me. The music explores different sonic elements, from orchestral sounds to dance beats. I stay true to myself but also weave in new creative expressions from my life experiences and personal evolution.
Asake emphasized the importance of singing in his native Yoruba, stating, “My music comes from my life. My journey, where I’m from, the things that made me who I am. That’s why singing in Yoruba will always be important to me. It’s natural.” He added, “Music is feeling. You don’t always have to understand every word. When the music is real, you feel it.”
Discussing his artistic growth, he said, “Every project is a reflection of where I am. Mr. Money With The Vibe was the beginning. Work of Art was me exploring. Lungu Boy was about where I come from. M$NEY is who I am today. I don’t chase change. I let it happen naturally.”
On upcoming music, Asake noted, “I always like to give my fans a few surprises. The music I’m working on is a continuation of everything M$NEY started, the growth, the exploration. Watching people hear it for the first time, seeing how they move to it, how they feel, it’s a different kind of feeling.”
Chart Success and Accolades
Asake’s rise has been marked by a series of milestones. His debut album, Mr. Money With The Vibe, was the highest-charting Nigerian debut album at the time of its release. Follow-up Work of Art cemented his presence, while Lungu Boy holds the record as the longest-running No. 1 album in Nigerian chart history and ranks among the top 20 most-streamed Nigerian albums on Spotify. He has earned two Grammy nominations for Best African Music Performance, for “Amapiano” featuring Olamide and “MMS” featuring Wizkid.
Asake acknowledged the milestone of becoming the most-streamed Nigerian artist of all time on Spotify: “I just gave thanks to God. It confirmed that the people felt what I was putting into it. Music is a feeling, and I’ve been able to take that feeling around the world. That’s everything to me.”
