Spotify reports that over ten designers from Lagos Fashion Week 2023 are curating its main playlist, “Fashion Forward,” for October.
Spotify’s official highlighted that the curated playlist complements runway exhibitions, seamlessly blending music and fashion
Victor Okpala, Spotify’s Artiste and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. He mentioned the curated playlist’s tracks would enhance their runway shows, seamlessly fusing music and fashion.
Ten designers from this year’s Lagos Fashion Week are curating Spotify’s Fashion Forward playlist for October.
“The designers, from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya, include Abigail Ajobi, Emmanuel Okoro, Frank Aghuno, Bubu Ogisi, Aristide Loua, Michelle Adepoju, Adebayo Oke-Lawal, Sisiano Paolo, Taju Ibrahim, and Iona McCreath.
“Furthermore, fashion and music are intricately connected, mutually inspiring each other in a dynamic interplay of creativity and self-expression.
“Spotify consistently demonstrates its support for various facets of creativity, seamlessly blending different parts of the industry,” he said.
Okpala highlighted how the Lagos Fashion Week-Spotify partnership showcases designers’ unique impact in music and fashion.
He noted diverse genre selections, featuring Afrobeats hits by Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema.
“Listeners will discover Afropop hits from Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara, enjoy classics by Fela Kuti, and explore emerging talents like SGaWD and Lady Donli from Nigeria, as well as Amaarae from Ghana and Just a Band from Kenya.
“The Fashion Forward playlist, with nearly 46,000 saves, is among Spotify’s top fashion playlists, alongside Runway and Fit Check.
“Its audience spans from young adults in their late teens to individuals in their forties.
“It’s important to mention that it’s hugely popular in cities worldwide, including Lagos, Los Angeles, Japan, and the UK,” he added.
Okpala mentioned Spotify’s collaboration with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the sole organizer of New York Fashion Week, to launch the official playlist for the 2023 edition.
He said Thebe Magugu was the first African based fashion designer to take over the ‘Fashion Forward’ playlist in March. He explained that the playlist showcased a diverse selection of songs and artistes spanning across different eras.
“It spans from 1975 with Fela Kuti’s “Water No Get Enemy” to 1996 with Gadji Celi’s timeless track “Femme de feu.”
“Moving through the 2010s, it features hits like Wande Coal’s “You Bad” and Davido’s “Dami Duro”.
“Bringing it back to the present day, the playlist culminates with the contemporary sensation, Rema’s chart-topping single “Charm”,” he stated.
Also, Emmanuel Okoro, Creative Director of Emmy Kasbit, said: “The world of music and fashion have always collided. Moreover, both share a symbiotic and profound relationship.
“Can you imagine a fashion show without a soundtrack or music to set the mood?
“Can you imagine an artiste set to perform on stage without an attire that sets the tone of the music they create? I don’t think that has ever happened so music and fashion definitely go hand in hand.”
