✨ Explore this must-read post from Culture | The Guardian 📖
📂 Category: Music,Culture,Electronic music
📌 Main takeaway:
SThe announcement represents a complete revamp for Ikonika Producer, songwriter and singer also known as Sarah Chen. By putting their own vocals at the forefront of their music for the first time, Chen has become a charismatic and haunting pop presence. Sometimes, they play the role of a warm R&B singer (Listen to Your Heart); Other times, as on the tense, hypnotic Whatchureallywant, they’re seductive and steely, dominating the dance floor over production that draws equally from South African bass and amapiano.
Ikonika has long been an established presence in underground electronic music. They have been signed to the Hyperdub label for nearly 20 years. Powerful, energetic releases like 2020’s Your Body and 2018’s The Library Album cemented their reputation as a bold, energetic producer. But “Sade” has the feel of a debut, centering around sounds from North and South Africa (Chen is part Egyptian) on tracks like “Sense Seeker” and “Gone.” Their lyrics draw on ideas of safety and care, pushing their persona beyond “party starter” into more complex territory.
Chen tends to repeat lyrics like the mantra: “Feel it now, feel your love” on Sense Seeker; “Is this illogical? Is it impossible?” On control. It makes listening to a sad song a bit like reading someone’s journal, full of serious midnight thoughts and raw desire. Her mission statement arrives early: “Are you even listening? Listen to your heart.” It announces Ikonika’s entry into the brave new world of pop without sacrificing the complexity that made their name.
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