Catharsis (Fola album)

Last updated
Catharsis
Catharsis (Fola album).jpg
Studio album by
Released4 September 2025 (2025-09-04)
Genre
Length28:05
Label
FOLA chronology
What a Feeling
(2024)
Catharsis
(2025)
Singles from Catharsis
  1. "Lost"
    Released: 24 April 2025
  2. "You"
    Released: 7 August 2025
  3. "Eko"
    Released: 1 September 2025

Catharsis (stylized in all lowercase) is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer-songwriter FOLA. It was released on 4 September 2025 by Dangbana Republik, and Empire. The studio album production credit are: L.O.L., Sbthaproducer, Shallythechampion, Kel-P, KTIZO Hoodini, Chuma Nwokike, Harrison Song, Adam Fritzle, Josh Milligan, Damie, Jhay2unez, and Promise. [1]

Contents

Background

In 2024, Bella Shmurda unveils FOLA as Dangbana Republik new signee. [2] On 2 December 2024, in an interview with TurnTable, he announced his debut EP what a feeling to be released in the same year, which became a commercial success and would pave the way for his next project. [3] On 15 August 2025, he announced plans to release his debut studio album. [4]

Singles

"Lost" was released on April 24, 2025, featuring Kizz Daniel, [5] [6] as the first single from the album. "You" was released on 7 August 2025, as the second single of the album. [5] [7] "Eko" was released on 1 September 2025, as the third single of the album. [5] [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pulse Nigeria7.1/10
African Folder 7.6/10
The Upper Entertainment8.7/10

Catharsis received generally favorable reviews from music critics. In a review for Pulse Nigeria, Adeayo Adebiyi says: "Fola’s run by expanding on the sound that brought him fame. His reluctance to embrace some variety and adventure leads to a predictability that can create dullness even for a 28-minute album." [9]

African Folder's Philemon Jacob describes the album as "is a clear stamp in the incredible moment Fola is having, a breakout year that would be remembered fondly in history." [10]

In review for The Upper Entertainment, Bomi Anifowose describes the album as "An imperfect, brilliant, and necessary debut that expands Afrobeats’ emotional vocabulary." [11]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Gokada"1:43
2."Eko"2:54
3."Golibe" (with Victony)2:42
4."You"2:45
5."Lost" (with Kizz Daniel)2:48
6."Healer"2:35
7."Cruise Control"2:00
8."Robbery" (with Gabzy)2:44
9."Caricature"3:01
10."Disco" (with Young Jonn)2:13
11."It's Going"2:40
Total length:28:05

Notes

Charts

Chart performance for Catharsis
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Nigerian Albums (TurnTable) [12] 1

References

  1. Adewale, Reuben (16 September 2025). "Catharsis: FOLA's Masterful Afrobeats Journey Of Love And Ambition". 49thStreet. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  2. Oghale, Anine Juliet (11 October 2024). "Bella Shmurda unveils new signee 'Fola' to Dangbana Republik". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. "The Start of Something Big". TurnTable. TurnTable. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. Clifford, Elizabeth (15 August 2025). "FOLA announces debut album release date". NotjustOk. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Adeyemi, Boluwatife (3 September 2025). "FOLA Is On The Precipice Of Greatness". The NATIVE. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  6. Taiwo, Olufunke (25 April 2025). "Lost Lyrics by FOLA Feat. Kizz Daniel". NotjustOk. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  7. Badewa, Collins (8 August 2025). "Fola Continues His No-Bad-Songs Streak With "You" + More New And Trending Songs By African Artists". Style Rave. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. Oloworekende, Wale (9 September 2025). "Best New Music: FOLA Weaves An Epic Tale Of Hustle On "eko"". The NATIVE. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  9. Adebiyi, Adeayo. "Fola's 'Catharsis' is an emotive tale of ambition and desire [Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  10. Jacob, Philemon. "Fola – Catharsis Album Review: Stamp In The Present, A Promise For The Future". African Folder. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  11. Anifowose, Bomi. "Album Review: Fola's Catharsis is a triple-layered session of his therapy, our therapy, and Afrobeats' therapy". The Upper Entertainment. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  12. "Official Top 100 Albums: September 5th, 2025 - September 11th, 2025". TurnTable . Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.