With the musician’s latest release, “How Sweet Is Your Love,” he imparts an uplifting message to all.
For the thoughtful and pensive musician Sinkane, 2024 is the year of radical self-love. Entering a year of high political turmoil (with a looming presidential election) and an equally charged social discourse (about the future of our world), it’s easy to lean into pessimism. Luckily for us, there’s more to come from the always-inspiring Sinkane, who reminds us there’s still a lot to celebrate.
“I think Black people and people of color have to embody this feeling of radical self-joy every day because it’s really all we got, especially when you walk out the door, and everything is against you.”
We catch Sinkane, the brainchild of Sudanese-American musician Ahmed Gallab, in his home studio. Today, he drops a new single, “How Sweet Is Your Love” (via City Slang), which celebrates “a love of Black culture that a lot of people don’t see.” Drenched in heartfelt lyrics reverberating his affection for those in his community, the single encourages listeners to cast away their worries and live in the moment.
“I think Black people and people of color have to embody this feeling of radical self-joy every day because it’s really all we got, especially when you walk out the door, and everything is against you,” Gallab reflects. “I think one of the most amazing examples of radical self-joy in Black culture is voguing, which you see in the music video. The community practices radical self-joy in this beautiful way.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Bảo Ngô, takes this uninhibited love and spirit of community to a whole other level. Backdropped by Gallab’s composition, featuring riffing strings and heavy disco synth instrumentals, the Haus of Tisci dancers get to work, putting their talent on display at Bushwick’s Sultan Room. Along with this single, Gallab also announces the release of his new album, We Belong, which will be available on April 5.
On his fifth studio album, the musician convenes his gospel, soul, and Afrobeat influences into ten striking tracks that document shared Black history. And as it comes almost four years after his previous album, Dépaysé, in 2019, it’s the most self-assured we’ve ever heard him sound. Both serving as a bold declaration and an affirmation, We Belong is a poignant portrayal of a musician who stands firmly in his artistry.
And similar to Sinkane’s previous albums, this project channels the lessons he’s found in his own personal introspection into the grander collective. For an artist whose first album purchases were Radiohead and Sleater-Kinney, but who also listened to Sudanese artists around the house (Mohammed Wardi and Sharhabil), Sinkane is a master at bringing together two seemingly different sonic worlds.
“In working on this album, I got really overwhelmed with writing about the other elements that you experience as a Black person–the racism, the struggle, the trauma.”
This album is no different, expertly merging his early infatuation with gritty punk and the foundational soul rhythms of his native Sudan. When seen individually, each track courageously pulsates with distinct energies, calling on divergent genres and eras—there’s “Everything Is Everything,” which explores his gospel roots; the encouraging Afro-beat anthem, “Rise Above;” and the 70s-funk of the titular “We Belong.” But when they’re seen together, the project forms Gallab’s “love letter to Black music,” as he shares. And is a refreshing reminder that, despite these uncertain times, simply putting good vibes into the universe qualifies as a powerful act.
“In working on this album, I got really overwhelmed with writing about the other elements that you experience as a Black person–the racism, the struggle, the trauma. One thing about racism is that it makes you over express yourself and talk about this stuff, so it ends up taking you away from yourself,” he shares. “I just wanted to highlight joy and celebration with this album and give people the opportunity to be whoever they are.
Besides its celebratory tone, another throughline of the album is its embrace of the collective. This creative process saw Gallab working with a broad community of artist friends and collaborators. There was Amanda Khiri on the record’s lyrics, Kenyatta Beasley on the trumpet, Bilal lending his voice, and more contributions from Ifedayo Gatling, Tru Osbourne, Hollie Cook, and STOUT. Together, Gallab and his fellow musicians ensured that the project was not only for the community but was made by one, too. Because in Gallab’s world, everyone is welcome.
Portrait of Sinkane by Dani Barbieri.
