There’s a certain power that radiates when an artist understands both their purpose and their source. For Ghanaian artist AratheJay, music isn’t just a career. It’s a calling. His new single “Fire,” featuring Nigerian star Bella Shmurda, isn’t just a bop; it’s a burning declaration of faith, zeal, and creative alignment. It’s also his first official release of 2025, and it comes with a blaze of intention.
Known for his lyrical depth and spiritually-charged sound, Ara doesn’t just make music, he ministers through melody. “Giving glory to God is my foundation,” he says, speaking passionately about how divine inspiration fuels his art. “That’s one of my guiding principles. Without God, there’s no fire.
He tells the story of “Fire” with sincerity: “I was meant to have a studio session, but I missed it. I thought it was gone. But by God’s grace, Bella Shmurda was there, and so was Zaki, the producer. We got in the studio, and before I knew it, Bella was humming melodies. It just flowed. No pen, no pad, just pure spirit.” The song was recorded in under an hour.
The result is a track that sounds as spiritual as it is sonically explosive. “‘Fire’ isn’t just energy or adrenaline.“It’s zeal. It speaks to divine passion, to a heat that comes from purpose. That’s why we chose that title. It carried the weight of what we were feeling.”
On why Bella Shmurda was the right collaborator, Ara beams: “I’ve always loved Bella. From Dagbana Republik to Triumphant, there’s something deeply spiritual about him. I knew that if I was ever going to make a song like this, I’d want him on it.”
But Ara isn’t just looking inward. He’s looking outward, too. His music is for the world. “Asking me if I’m bridging Ghana and Nigeria. But it’s more than that,” he says. “I’m not just making music for Africa. I’m making music for the world. Whether I’m singing in English or pidgin, the message is global. I love Afrobeats, I love highlife, grime, and hip hop, but more than genre, I care deeply about message.”
That clarity of message is what he wants his legacy to be. “In everything I do, I want to represent my source. I want to be remembered as someone who stood for God, who created with purpose, and who gave his best in every area of life.”
Ara’s journey hasn’t been without challenges, but he describes it in one word: “Gracious. It’s been full of grace and excitement.”So what has the experience taught him?“Patience,” he says. “And more importantly, accountability. As an artist, it’s easy to think it’s all you. But it’s not. Your gift is from somewhere. You’re a vessel. And when you realize that, it shapes how you create. It gives you perspective.”
Looking ahead, Ara is gearing up to release the sequel to his debut project, Finding Nemo: The Capsule. “This tape is a continuation,” he shares. “On this one, I’m revisiting my Kenyan roots. I grew up there, and I want that sound on the project. So expect features from East Africa, too.”
He adds that his approach to collaborations remains consistent: “It’s not about who the person is. It’s about what the message is. When the message aligns, the music does too.”
And where does he dream of taking this message? “Coachella. Rolling Stone. Wembley. I love live music. DJ sets are cool, but I love hearing the instruments, the voices. It brings the music to life in a whole new way.”
From Ghana to Nigeria, from spirituality to the stage, AratheJay is building something far bigger than a discography. He’s building a legacy, one soul-stirring message at a time.
