Aby Coulibaly - 'On My Ones'
Dublin-based alt R&B prodigy Aby Coulibaly taps into the unspoken collective mentality of needing space and time on your own in new hypnotic and confessional single “On My Ones”.
It’s safe to say after two years of being deprived of social interaction, the majority of us are in a carpe diem mentality where we keep telling each other we should be going out, seeing friends, spending days and nights surrounded by people. We’ve been slowly pushed into thinking every second we’re on our own is wasted time because the simple possibility of having humans around was unexpectedly taken away. However, because of this exact reason, we’ve also learned to appreciate the quality time we’ve spent with ourselves. Unfortunately, this POV has all of a sudden become negative, frowned upon, and almost unacceptable. Although, it is safe to say that once in a while, we all look forward to having that self-care Friday night where we get to hangout alone and decompress, it is almost as if we needed someone to give us explicit permission to do it. Well, that voice of reason has been years in the making but it’s finally arrived in the shape of a 22y/o R&B and confessional rap goddess. With new single “On My Ones”, up-and-comer Any Coulibaly says it loud and clear — “yeah you know that I know that I rather be alone” — just like the rest of us.
With the line “I just wanna get away sometimes, and it took me time just to realise I don’t want more friends, I just need more time, cuz if time is money then I’ll be just fine”, the young artist immediately captures our attention as she is basically saying what we are all thinking. In Aby’s true fashion, the lyrics in this new hypnotic single are both unbelievably direct and unapologetically open. Delivered with exceptional effortless flow, ever single line makes the listener want to reflect over their own experience wishing they had the same confidence as Coulibaly to admit they need to recharge their social batteries with introspection and chill time with themselves.
In her own words, "’On My Ones’ is about enjoying my own company and being by myself. I’ve always been that person to leave functions/parties early because I’m tryna go home to my bed. It’s also about disconnecting myself from everything like social media, even friends sometimes, because I just need to sit with my own thoughts and emotions and be in my own company for a while”.
The track has a certain mysticism that perfectly mirrors the energy that Aby exudes as the confident and wise-beyond-her-years human that she’s proving to be. Her smooth-like-butter yet rather raspy vocals also add the mystery of the whole situation making you crave more.
With just a handful of songs under her name, Coulibaly has managed to capture the attention of a very committed fanbase and we can certainly confirm she’s made us fall in love with her and her story. She’s also starting to draw mainstream attention into the Irish R&B scene which is overflowing with unexpected talent. Interpreting the blueprint left behind by Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, Aby Coulibaly has a very exciting and fulfilling career ahead of her which will definitely bring her to the biggest world stages. If there’s an x factor to be had, she undoubtedly has it and we can only sit tight, strap our belts and hope to be taken along for what’s sure to be a thrilling ride.
Words by Nicole Otero
