Hypersensitive Afra Kane

• 1Building02:56
• 2River03:35
• 3Mouth Shut (Open-Air)03:44
• 4F.O.B.G.03:37
• 5Élégie (Requiem Aeternam)02:09
• 6Ancient Greeks04:12
• 7Fire in Me03:27
• 8Poème (Desiderium)01:14
• 9Start Again04:16
• 10Prélude00:52
• 11Finish Line03:13
• Total Runtime33:15

Info for Hypersensitive

Afra Kane’s album "Hypersensitive" aims to create a different reality. A reality in which self-discovery and self-healing are accompanied by a freedom of expression, naked, raw & contrasted emotions.

With a truly unique style of jazz-inflected soul with hints of classical music as well as Nigerian gospel, Afra Kane has been gathering accolades for quite some time now, including winning the solo category at the “Montreux Jazz Talent Award” (with Stanley Clarke, Chilly Gonzales and Chucho Valdés in the jury). She has appeared as a guest on other peoples’ records and released a well-received EP, “Scorpio”. She has toured Italy as support act for Jack Savoretti and she has recently returned from a two-month residency at the Café Carlyle Hong Kong where she followed in the footsteps of Earth Kitt and Bobby Short. Now, at last, comes her true declaration of artistic independence.

Born to Nigerian parents in Vicenza, Afra Kane found herself captivated by the music of Chopin even before she was a teenager. Whilst studying at the conservatory of her home town, she also discovered Etta James, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. She liked the combination: “In classical music, the focus was on faultless interpretation. With soul music, I was able to express my feelings without in any way having to think of technique”, she says. She tried to continue her musical studies in Cardiff but was discouraged by the lack of interest by her fellow students in her musical ideas. Moving on to Geneva and the campus in Neuchâtel, everything was different. Ironically, she says, people in England now told her she had to move to London, otherwise she would never be able to fulfil her vision. “But it was in Switzerland that I very quickly found open-minded musicians who enjoyed playing with me and appreciated my music. They gave me confidence. I realised that I didn’t have to allow them to stick me in a certain box. I could be the musician I wanted to.”

"This Switzerland-based Italian-Nigerian singer and pianist captured the jury's attention with her voice and her compositions which draw on many influences, from classical music to gospel." (Montreux Jazz Artist Foundation)

Afra Kane

Afra Kane
Winner of Montreux Jazz Talent Award 2019, Afra Kane is an Italian pianist, singer-songwriter & composer, who boasts a great variety of musical and cultural backgrounds. Her soulful and powerful voice has been described to be able to “pull you down the rabbit hole”.

Afra Kane’s new album Hypersensitive (03.2022) aims to create a different reality. A reality in which self-discovery and self-healing are accompanied by a freedom of expression, naked, raw & contrasted emotions. Her singles "Building" and “Start Again”(2021) were very well received by radio in Switzerland and across Europe on BBC Introducing and Jazz Fm. ​

Moreover her single “Mouth Shut”, was selected as BBC introducing record of the week. Her first EP “Scorpio”, released in January 2019 and self-produced in collaboration with Christophe Farine, received a very good media reception on Couleur3, Paradiso, Espace 2, Grrif.

​ Afra Kane has been invited to play as a guest-opening act at Jack Savoretti’s Italian tour. She has performed at renown venues such Festival de Jazz de St. Moritz, Festi’neuch and Montreux Jazz Festival, Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. She’s taken part in the Montreux Jazz Academy under the mentorship of John Mclaughin, China Moses, Anne Paceo and the musical direction of Snarky Puppy. ​

She’s participated in a two months residency performing at the prestigious Café Carlyle Hong Kong, legacy of which has seen Eartha Kitt, Woody Allen & Bobby Short as some of the performing artists throughout the history of the Café, originated in New York.

This album contains no booklet.