Aninooritsewarami Alero Oritsesan, better known as Kold AF, is carving a well-defined and inspiring story in the music industry. Since venturing into music in 2020, shortly after a bold career switch, Kold AF has shown unwavering determination and talent. Her courage and vitality have propelled her steadily up the charts, making her a name to watch.
The year 2024 has further cemented her rise with the release of standout singles _“_Manyana” and “365” from her latest project, KAUTION. _“_Manyana” debuted at No. 78 and peaked at No. 65 on the Official Nigeria Top 100 chart, maintaining a four-week presence. “365” surpassed this, reaching No. 49 and climbing to No. 40 on the same chart. On the Official Artiste Top 100 Chart, Kold AF made her ****debut at No. 89, peaking at No. 76, and spent a total of three weeks.
Kold AF’s journey is marked by independence and resolve. She founded her indie record label, Arktik Kold Ltd., before signing with Warner Music Africa in August 2024. Her discography reflects her skills and commitment to her craft, with three EPs under her belt —her debut project, Kold Szn; the 2023 six-track project, KOLLIDE; and her latest masterpiece, KAUTION.
As pertaining to her collaborative spirit, Kold AF has worked with an array of soul-matching talents, including Tim Lyre, Uncommon Prophets, Moelogo, BGRZ, Bkay EastGaad, Aema, and so on. Her unique blend of soul, R&B, dancehall, and Afrobeats sets her apart, creating her signature style that resonates with her diverse audiences.
In this exclusive interview, Kold AF opens up about her journey into music, her dreams, and what drives her creativity. She shares insights into the influences that shape her sound, the stories her music tells, and the hard work behind her craft.
TTC: Introduction & Background:
For those just discovering your music, how would you introduce yourself beyond what we already know?
Kold AF: One thing you need to know about me is I'm multifaceted. I'm not afraid of change. I'm not afraid of evolution. I think music is very fluid. I think style is very fluid. I can do whatever I want with it and I stay doing that. One of the key things I strive to stand for is quality. I want you to know that whatever I do is going to be top tier and I want my name Kold AF to be associated with quality. That's what I'm trying to build. I'm trying to build a legacy.
TTC: Stage Name:
Your stage name, Kold AF, has an intriguing edge. What inspired the name, and how does it reflect who you are as an artiste?
Kold AF: I used to go by something else, Koel. It's the name of an Asian singing bird, but for SEO reasons, I had to change it. I wanted to go for something that was eye-catching, different, bold and did it for me. It doesn't mean what people think it means, but with time, I'll rule that out.
TTC: Career Shift:
At what point did you realize that music was your true calling, shifting away from a career in Law? Was it a specific moment or more of a gradual transition?
Kold AF: Shifting away from Law was definitely a gradual transition. I don't make decisions hastily. I like to think about it, and understand the kind of risks I'm about to take, and it took about two years. I focused on Law initially to just chase the bag. I was chasing stability and chasing the bag. It looked like an easier route, but I started to understand that I didn't have the zeal that most of my mates had. I'm good at it, passing really well, but I don't love it. And my friend, Esosa, I always mention him, but, yeah, there's a reason. He's a big part of this. He made me see gradually that music is it for me. I should try it. There's no harm in trying it. And it just left a mark in me and I had to sit down with myself and really think about if it was worth the risk and the try. It took two years for me to decide. You know, let's try music. What's the harm? I don't want to regret, I don't wanna be part of those people who say, oh, I could have or maybe I should have. I don't wanna hear that. So we're here now. Gradual transition. And in 2020, I made the big leap.
TTC: Creative Process on Kold Szn and KOLLIDE:
Both Kold Szn and KOLLIDE showcase versatility and depth. What was the most fulfilling part of working on these projects, and what challenges did you encounter?
Kold AF: For Kold Szn, Kold Szn is literally a testament of my growth because I had taken a year-long break. That was from being Koel and transitioning into Kold AF. My manager, Excel Joab, and I decided that it was time to just take a break and develop. And that's what we did and that's what Kold Szn is a testament of. It shows my growth and people really resonated with blues especially. And it was just amazing to see and very validating that I'm not doing rubbish, basically. For KOLLIDE, another testament to growth because I got to show more sides to myself in terms of versatility. It was just I think growth is one thing I really look forward to and I really look out for and these two projects did it for me.
TTC: Vision for KAUTION:
Your latest EP, KAUTION feels intentional and bold. What story were you trying to tell with this project, and how did the creative process evolve from the initial idea to the final cut?
Kold AF: We wanted this project to be, as you said, bold. What I wanted was a statement. I wanted to show a bolder, stronger, fiercer, fiercer side to me. You get me? At first, I can't lie to you, we didn't know exactly what it would be. But as we made more music, entered the studio, made more songs, understanding the feel, I started getting what the themes should be about resilience. You understand? Being up myself and all that. I just needed to portray all this. At some point, I wanted love to be on it, but it was not sitting well in my head. I felt like I didn't want any love. I want realness in this project. Things I really resonate with. I want to touch on them in different ways. It was a step-by-step process and it wasn't it wasn't formulated from the ground up. We knew exactly what we were doing. No. Step by step, everything started to get clearer.
TTC: Personal Favorite Track:
Out of all the songs on the EP, which one holds the most personal significance to you, and what makes it stand out?
Kold AF: I can't say that any song is my personal favorite because they change over time. The more I listen, it changes. What I will say is, “CYCLE MUST BREAK” has a lot of significance to me because that was the first time I sang about something related to activism, my personal philosophies. That's the most significant one I'd like to think. But every other song has a different significance to me. “365” is one of the most fierce, statement-bold songs I've ever done before. I've always thought I could do stuff like that but actually making it in real life was different. So “MY WAY” represents my wants and desire to make it in life my doggedness and my just my strong head basically. I'm not giving up and I believe in myself. So it's very very different. It depends. Every song has a different significance to me. But “CYCLE MUST BREAK” was the first time I tried something like that and I loved it. It came out really nicely.
TTC: Collaborations & Future Features:
You’ve had some exciting collaborations already. Are there any artistes, locally or internationally, that you’re eager to work with next?
Kold AF: I have a list of people but there's no need to mention everything because it's really long. I look forward to working with different artistes of different, levels. It doesn't matter, I’m just very passionate about the music. A couple of people I would love to work with, are Burna Boy for sure, Wizkid, Rema, Tems, and Ayra Starr. This is on the Nigerian level. Bella Shmurda, it's random. It's very very random. I could keep going; Rihanna, Beyonce, Odeal, Pa Salieu, JHus, Coldplay, Blxckie, Black Sherif, Amaarae. The list keeps going. I just wanna make amazing music and I feel like sitting down in the studio with these people would be amazing. I just look forward to creating amazing music. Music I'll be proud of years from now.
TTC: Musical Influences & Inspiration:
Who or what do you draw inspiration from when writing and producing your music? Has your source of inspiration evolved over time?
Kold AF: I think foundationally, the music I listened to while I was growing up has a very big role to play because it shaped the things that I like and go towards. For instance, I really liked Sean Paul's music at the time, and that just really informed the type of flows I like and lean towards. Also, listening to Asa growing up informed my need to be versatile and do the unusual regardless of what's happening or what's happening like this scene. So it just depends. Like, it depends. Growing up, the music I listened to definitely shaped how I think now. But, in terms of what I draw from for writing, I think I take inspiration from anywhere. I'd like to write my themes down in my notes and I just pick whatever is going with the beat. I also listen to the beat and see what it's saying to me. I also like to be part of the beat-making process. I'm just really going on what I'm hearing and the feeling of it. That’s about it.
TTC: Balancing Artistry with Personal Life:
Music can be demanding—how do you find a balance between your personal life and your artistry? Do you have any practices that help you stay grounded?
Kold AF: Personally, I like to take breaks. I like to find days and make out time for friends and family, for myself. And this is very serious for me. I don't know how it is for everybody else, but this is very serious. When I make out a day, nothing can be fixed on that day unless it is very pressing and dire. And even then, sometimes, I'm still gonna be very insistent because there are more days. I like to make out time and I like to make sure that when I am having this time to myself or friends and family, it's just that there's no work coming in between. And if it has to, I make sure it's when everything's done, and it's just me awake that I get to do these things. I just make time for myself and what's important to me.
TTC: Looking Ahead:
What’s next for Kold AF? Should we expect more projects, tours, or collaborations in the near future?
Kold AF: Definitely. It's always going to be growing higher, a step higher, always brick by brick. We're building something amazing. I'm looking forward to a feature run, killing it on songs, getting my music, my sound, getting the word out there, and getting new fans. I'm looking forward to touring with a couple people. It's not confirmed, but if it is, I will inform my fans and everyone on social media platforms. And I'm just always going to be looking forward to pushing the boundaries of what I can do in every aspect. I can't really speak too much on what that means, but with time, it all makes sense. Thank you so much.