Ghanaian-German-Cameroonian singer-songwriter Malaïka has released “Place I Go To,” a new single featuring Ghanaian-Burkinabé singer-songwriter Ria Boss, marking a years-in-the-making collaboration and continuing Malaïka’s reflective, self-exploratory songwriting.
“Place I Go To” is built from soul and jazz, the music Malaïka loves most and the influence that shapes her melodies and compositions. The song began with no instrumentation at all, just her voice, growing out of her habit of writing melodies in silence and singing a cappella.
What started as a single line grew over time: first as an interlude on Malaïka’s debut EP, 27, then into a guitar and piano arrangement performed live; then a full-band version debuted at her headline show in Accra, before finally evolving into the rich, textured production heard today.
Producer Enid Blekk and creative director/A&R Kafui Offori developed the song’s arrangement, with Tronomie handling vocal production and recording for both Malaïka and Ria Boss. Malaïka describes the result as “really rich, really soulful,” the kind of sound that “instantly puts you at ease.”
Speaking about the song, Malaïka says, “The song is about finding a home or resting place, somewhere you feel safe. For me that’s the ocean, for others it’s the people they love or a higher power, but most importantly, you can find it within yourself. I hope anyone who hears this song is reminded that they can find a resting place within themselves, too.”
Malaika has admired Ria Boss since seeing her perform live in 2019, and the two later became friends through the Black Girls Glow residency. When the song was ready for a second voice, Ria Boss was the only choice. Describing the collaboration, Malaika calls it simply: “Made in heaven.”
Earlier this year, Malaïka previewed the song for a blindfolded audience, an experiment that revealed how powerfully the track lands when listeners close their eyes. She hopes fans will do the same on first listen.
“Place I Go To” ft. Ria Boss is available now on all streaming platforms.
