Chicago based soulstress Jamila Woods brings us further into her world of pride of self, city, and culture, with the release of her debut album, HEAVN.
The project includes 13 original songs, with features from Chance The Rapper (“LSD”), Lorine Chia, Saba, Donnie Trumpet, and Noname, along with production by oddCouple, Peter Cottontale, Carter Lang, among others.
Sharing a description of the album in her own words, Woods explains: “‘HEAVN’ is about black girlhood, about Chicago, about the people we miss who have gone on to prepare a place for us somewhere else, about the city/world we aspire to live in. I hope this album encourages listeners to love themselves and love each other. For black and brown people, caring for ourselves and each other is not a neutral act. It is a necessary and radical part of the struggle to create a more just society. Our healing and survival are essential to the fight.”
Along with black love, the album focuses on self-love as well. On “Lonely Lonely,” Jamila sings, “I put a post-it note on my mirror, so I might love myself / So I might be enough today.” A message most could use at least a few days a week. She also borrows from the classic Paula Cole song, “I Don’t Want To Wait” to further her point, singing: “I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over, to love myself however I feel.”
Stream the full EP below, and you can currently download it for free here.
LOVE!!