COLORSxSTUDIO — often known simply as COLORS — is a Berlin-based music platform celebrated for its distinctive visual style and raw musical intimacy. From global sensations to rising voices, each session features artists performing a single track against a striking monochromatic backdrop, turning the spotlight wholly on voice, presence and emotion.
The latest showcase features Ghanaian singer and rapper Black Sherif. One of West Africa’s rising stars, he powerfully conveys the struggles of his generation through vivid reflections on survival and urban life. Celebrating the release of his new album, Iron Boy and fresh off an acclaimed world tour, ONE – A COLORS SHOW is a distilled moment of intensity — a song that channels ambition, pain, and resilience through a stripped-back setup that leaves no room to hide. It’s just the artist, the mic and the truth. We caught up with Black Sherif after the performance to talk about the album and his influences.
GP: Congratulations on the release of your latest album, Iron Boy. The name evokes strength and resilience. Is that a reflection of your personal journey over the last few years?
BS: Yes, I’d say strength and resilience are the best ways to describe the energy I poured into this album. Those qualities aren’t just themes — they’re the driving force behind every word, every note. Over the past few years, I’ve been shaped by challenges and transformations that demanded both courage and persistence. Iron Boy is a reflection of that inner journey: of pushing through, holding on, and ultimately emerging with something honest and powerful.
GP: Afrobeats, drill, highlife: your music doesn’t sit neatly in one box. How would you define your sound, or do you avoid that altogether?
BS: I like to run away from defining my sound because I’ve always had a bit of a problem with playing by the rules – in any aspect of life.
GP: With Iron Boy now out in the world, what feeling, truth, or message do you hope lingers with listeners after they’ve spent time with the album?
BS: I hope people walk away with a deeper understanding of how pain can be lived with, transformed, and even embraced. Iron Boy is about the human condition in all its rawness: suffering, healing, growing. These experiences are part of who we are, and sometimes they carry wisdom that can shape us in unexpected ways. I want listeners to feel less alone in their own struggles and to see that there’s beauty in surviving — and in making art from that survival.
GP: Are your lyrics born out of instinct, lived experience, or observation? Do you usually start with words, melody, or mood?
BS: Usually, it all starts from a mood — real or imagined — and then it grows into words, then melody. Or sometimes, melody first, then words. From there, I work on finding the soul of the body, making sure the lyrics have origin and meaning.
GP: Your music resonates far beyond Ghana. How do you stay rooted in your culture while speaking to a global audience?
BS: My voice. Every time I sing, I remember where I come from and why I chose music. I remember how much I wanted to be heard, and how far I dreamt of taking it. It’s that connection to my roots and my story that keeps me grounded while reaching a global audience.
GP: Do you feel any pressure representing West African youth or being seen as a voice of your generation?
BS: It’s a struggle. As much as I’d rather not be a role model, that’s what my life has become, in some way. But I have to stay true to myself to keep the spirit of my message alive — and finding that balance has been a bittersweet challenge.
GP: COLORS has become a global stage for both emerging and established talent. Your performance felt like a new chapter — stripped down, raw, and globally visible. What did it mean to you to be featured on COLORS at this point in your journey? And how did you decide on the song you performed?
BS: I always saw it coming. It felt almost like a necessary step – one of those missions where, once completed, it feels like déjà vu. Choosing the song wasn’t difficult at all. One was the only track I had in mind when I found out I’d be performing on COLORS. I had zero doubts it would be anything else.
GP: The COLORS setup strips everything back: it’s just the artist and the mic. Did that sense of vulnerability bring something new out in your performance?
BS: I remember the energy in the room changing as I got into the song. It’s wild, but One does that every time. It felt like one of those moments singing alone in my bedroom, long before the album dropped.
GP: Did the minimalism of the COLORS studio challenge or inspire you in a new way, compared to performing live or in a traditional studio setting?
BS: It definitely challenged me — there was no room to be a perfectionist. And that was actually really funny to me. But I loved it!
GP: People define your music as a bridge between older and younger generations. What would you say to a young artist in Konongo Zongo today, who’s watching you and thinking: I want that too?
BS: It’s right in front of you.
