In songwriting, utilizing space with just as much care as any instrument or voice takes true guts and wisdom. Not only does space represent stillness, contentment, and mindfulness, but it’s also the fulcrum of collectivism and free expression, and it is a key tenet of the Black ecstatic lineage. Space has always been politicized, and to view it from a place of abundance rather than scarcity, even in a conceptual sense, is a rebuke of fascist oppressors and an affirmation of love and self-belief.
For voracious forward thinkers like Cleveland-based Afrofuturist collective Mourning [A] BLKstar, space is a sacred lifeblood, especially now, as 2025 marks its 10th anniversary as a band. Their forthcoming album, Flowers for the Living, is defined by a transportive sonic spaciousness, with a palpable trust in themselves and their artistic choices that burns brighter than ever. Following their masterful 2020 double LP, The Cycle, which showcased a bold, skittering hip-hop take on gospel music, and 2024’s emphatic blues-rock tape Ancient//Future, Flowers for the Living merges the moody, mercurial grooves of the former, the hypnotic firepower of the latter, plus the clarity that comes with reaching that first-decade milestone. The new album is set to be released on May 16.
With a new LP beginning to form in the mystic fog of Mourning [A] BLKstar, the latest single begins to tell the tale the band crafted on their upcoming effort. “Stop Lion 2” lands somewhere between eerie jazz and psychedelic rock, with a subtle touch of Hip-hop and neo-soul. On paper, a tune with this many influences could come off as overproduced. Although these influences did not fall into novice hands, the band is an expert in the fusion world. The way the urgent yet smooth harmonies coil around the sturdy drum patterns and droning horns create a kaleidoscope of textures for the listener to escape blissfully. The band’s vague yet potent songwriting delivers an essential message of togetherness when the music begins to set in. Mourning [A] BLKstar writes from a place of universal truth and explores the disconnect between the typical person and the invisible elite, giving “Stop Lion 2” that balance of head-spinning artistry and political messaging. With only a few short weeks until the release of their new LP, Mourning [A] BLKstar releases a statement piece of a lead single. “Stop Lion 2” is an anthem for modern times from a veteran band whose restless energy has broken the mold so many times they render it unrecognizable.
“The blatant lying between heads of state, financial barons, and elected officials had to be addressed. As we envisioned the video, we kept returning to the lyrics and imagined a woman conjuring a rebellion through meditation. We styled the video around that idea,” explains the band.
