Chaka Khan criticized modern female popstars for 'doing any and every damn thing on stage' while trying to sing, suggesting they are compensating for vocal weaknesses.
I want people to go on a journey. Some people say their inner child is being healed - my music is doing something for people. So when I'm writing the new music, which is nearly finished, I'm picturing things like Coldplay and Massive Attack shows where they have elements of organic human music, real vocals, and no autotune. That's where I'm going.
I do not turn to celebrities for trenchant political takes or honestly really expect them to know what's actually going on in the news. However, I also think that most good art engages with the world in which it's being created, and now that we're in good-art-naming season (aka awards season), ignoring that world is privileged at best and evil at worst.
London R&B singer Ella Mai broke out in 2018 with the sleeper hit "Boo'd Up," which employed its chorus, mimicking a heartbeat, to channel the kind of easygoing romance that puts a skip in your step. "There Goes My Heart," a highlight from her new album, Do You Still Love Me?, captures the more demanding somatic rhythms of a love that brings your defenses crashing down.
With so much good music being released all the time, it can be hard to determine what to listen to first. Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. This week's batch includes new albums from Ari Lennox, Lucinda Williams, and Cat Power. Subscribe to Pitchfork's New Music Friday newsletter to get our recommendations in your inbox every week.