We Belong, is the eighth studio album from Sinkane, a band led by multi-instrumentalist Ahmed Gallab. And like much of Sinkane’s previous releases, it resists genre. It’s pop. It’s funk. It’s electronic. It blends the gritty punk newness of a 70s and 80s New York with the steady, foundational soul of the rhythms of his native Sudan. Though We Belong comes deep into the catalog of a long career, it also resists stagnation. It moves and travels—through words and eras, through emotion and healing. It is a kind of rebirth for Gallab, who began releasing music under the Sinkane moniker in 2007. The album is due out April 5th via City Slang (PRE-SAVE).
Though it can be painful, it can be cathartic to revisit the past; this album is both. Because to be Black in America is to know great suffering and great joy. “I made this album as my love letter to Black music,” Gallab says. Each song is addressed to a different era, a different form: the gospel-soaked “Everything Is Everything,” the dreamy, Quiet Storm-influenced Afro-beats of “Rise Above,” the 70s-funk of “We Belong” and its Sly Stone influence, the Stevie Wonder-edged “Another Day”—they tell a story about Black music and Black people.
Sinkane had long been the solitary vision of its creator, melding the classic American sounds mingling in his head—rock, jazz, soul, pop—with the syncopated rhythms of Africa to create his own Afrofuturistic vision. But for this album, the idea of a single voice no longer felt right. The methods that once felt natural now felt heavy, an old way tethered to old sounds. Gallab’s longing to reshape what a “Sinkane song” could be required rethinking fundamental ideas about music and collaboration. He returned to school, at SUNY Purchase, and earned a masters in composition; on the way, he learned new ways. “We are hardwired for connection, and we want to communicate with each other,” Gallab says. And as much as this is an album displaying his new ways of thinking and creating, it is also about connections. Between musicians. Between cultures. Between sounds. Between histories.
Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive premiere of the performance video for the standout track “How Sweet is Your Love,” which was recorded at Public Records in Brooklyn. While Sinkane has often taken his own road, this song finds him in full big band form with a deliciously funky anthem that is soaked in vibrant disco energy. The feel-good anthem is sure to pull people to the dance floor with its spunky groove, radiant vocals, and soul-packed harmonies. On first listen, you might think this song was actually made in the 70s, but Sinkane and his band mates inject it with a fresh vigor that makes it completely of the moment. Watching the chemistry between these musicians, not to mention the suspenseful build-up and impressive vocal performance, should get you excited for the kind of live shows we can expect from Sinkane on his upcoming tour.
Watch the video and read our interview with Sinkane below…
This song definitely feels like it’s in a disco vein. Can you talk a little bit about the inspiration and how it came about?
I got a little exhausted writing about the Black struggle. Damn! How many traumatic memories do I have to re-live before I just break into 100 pieces? I wanted to have some fun. What would it sound like if I wrote a song like Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”?
You are known for having that big funky live energy. How do you capture this in the studio?
The big funky energy comes from the conversation musicians have playing music together. I am fortunate and lucky to play with some of the greatest musicians in the world.
Musically, We Belong is really all over the map. Are there specific albums or artists you were listening a lot to going into the writing and recording?
Yes. I was listening to a lot of music from Africa, the Caribbean, UK, and North/South America. Specifically, Sault, Ezra Collective, Sly Stone, Parliament/Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, SA RA Creative Partners, Erkyah Badu, D’angelo, Rema, Burna Boy, Gilberto Gil, Konshenz, Bob Marley, King Tubby, Sly & Robbie, Larry Levan… It was endless.
You have called the new album a “love letter to black music.” Can you elaborate a little bit on what this means in terms of the styles represented and your personal journey as an artist?
I draw influence from the holistic Black experience. There are several musical motifs: Reggae one drops and guitars, Dancehall, Afrobeats/Afrofusion rhythms, Boom Bap drums, Jazz melodies, Gospel vocals, Neo Soul bass, and Dance music production. Lyrics were inspired by poets from The Black Arts Movement.
How does your writing process work with Amanda Khiri?
It was very organic. Her and I text and talk to each other daily. She’s my sister. So, as I was working on this project, I would send her my demos to see if she had any notes on what I was trying to say. Lyrics are the hardest thing for me. She’s a naturally gifted writer and has wonderful way of painting pictures with her words. This back and forth started to become a routine. I’d work on music until supper time, send it to her, she’d have something for me in the morning. From there, we’d go back and forth on getting everything right. Both editing down the lyrics until we were both satisfied with what the song was saying. It was very natural and fun.
Your music has often been a solo endeavor but this album is highly collaborative. Did that take you outside of your comfort zone and what do you think made you want to take a collaborative approach?
Yes, it definitely took me outside of my comfort zone. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to work collaboratively but I was just too scared to do it. I was fighting against my scarcity mentality. Even in moments when I knew the best thing to do was to collaborate. I felt like I had something to prove to myself. I was too stubborn and selfish. I felt like collaborating was stripping me of my power. Boy, was I wrong!
I think what made me want to take this new approach was going to therapy and music school. I learned a lot about myself in those 2 years. I understand nuance and community a lot better now. And I feel much happier about myself and the world too!
This video for “How Sweet Is Your Love” captures a ton of onstage energy in your performance. Can we expect this same level from your upcoming tour?
You can expect about 10 times the energy on tour. This is the best band that I’ve ever assembled and I cannot wait for the world to see and hear this music live. It’s gonna be a wonderful time!
