Gyakie – Audience ft. Song Bird

“Audience” is the opening track on Gyakie’s My Diary EP, released July 22, 2022. It’s a 1:38 minute intro that immediately sets the EP apart from typical Afropop. Produced by Altra Nova, the song leans into African jazz and highlife textures, with live-sounding percussion, warm chords, and Gyakie’s soft, conversational vocals leading the way.

The title plays on a double meaning. “Song Bird” is Gyakie’s nickname, so she’s literally featuring herself, but the track also feels like a live performance for an audience. She opens with “Good evening ladies and gentlemen / My name is Gyakie, uh / We’re ‘bout to have a good time”, and it sounds like she’s stepping on stage to thank God and her fans.

Lyrically, it’s a prayer and a gratitude note. Lines like “Dear God, I know You working something for me / And I’ll voice it out for You” and “What You say You do / Got me feeling good / Giving out sweet melodies” show Gyakie reflecting on her journey since “Forever” blew up. She’s not flexing. She’s thanking.

Gyakie herself said she was “super excited when I was recording this song because it was very different from the normal genre that contemporary artists would do, especially from Africa”. She’s spoken openly about loving jazz and listening to it daily, and “Audience” is where that influence shows. It’s slow, intimate, and feels more like a live session than a radio single.

On My Diary, “Audience” works as the perfect opener. It quiets everything down and tells you this EP is personal. After the global reach of “Forever Remix,” she brings it back to the basics: voice, gratitude, and Ghanaian rhythm.

If you’re exploring Gyakie’s discography beyond the hits, start here. It’s short, but it’s the most honest 1:38 minutes she’s put out, and it sets up the emotional arc of the entire EP.