Singer Yemi Alade has recounted a dramatic experience of losing her voice just before recording for Beyoncé’s album The Lion King: The Gift.
In an interview with Larry Madowo on CNN African Voices, Yemi revealed that the incident occurred shortly after her arrival in Los Angeles.
She visited the studio to meet the production team a day before her scheduled session but woke up the next morning unable to speak.
“All I heard in my head was an effort, but I couldn’t voice out words,” she said, describing the moment as both shocking and discouraging.
Determined to recover, the Johnny crooner resorted to her usual voice routine which included warm water, Vitamin C, ginger, herbal teas, and staying warm.
The regimen worked, enabling her to record two tracks for the album.
These included the hit song ‘Don’t Jealous Me’ and a verse for an earlier version of ‘My Power.’
Reflecting on the ordeal, Yemi joked that her “village people” might have been behind the vocal mishap.
She however expressed gratitude to God for overcoming the challenge and being part of the groundbreaking collaboration.
The Grammy-nominated album, released in 2019 featured several African artists and celebrated the continent’s diverse sounds and cultures.
