Sade Adu releases first new track in six years, ‘Young Lion’

Sade Adu, lead singer of the band Sade, has released her first new track in six years, ‘Young Lion’.

The single is part of an upcoming compilation album celebrating and raising awareness of trans artistry.

Inspired by the “art and presence” of the late SOPHIE, ‘TRAИƧA’ is set to arrive November 22 from New York-based non-profit Red Hot.

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Adu’s contribution is an emotional tribute to her son Izaak Theo Adu (pictured together above), a trans man who has spoken out about his transitioning journey and openly thanked his mother for her support throughout the process.

On the track, the GRAMMY Award-winning artist’s distinctive voice can be heard singing the lines: “Young man, it’s been so heavy for you / You must have felt so alone… I should have known / Shine like a sun / You have everything you need.”

'Young Lion' has been shared alongside four other tracks from the album, via a sampler record available both digitally and on vinyl.

Read this next: Sade to release new track, 'Young Lion', on compilation celebrating trans artistry

“These singles from the 46-track prismatic spiritual journey of Red Hot Org’s TRAИƧA glimpse the project’s full epic sonic palette and time travel,” reads the liner to ‘TRAИƧA: Selects’.

The other tracks shared today (October 25) are by Lauren Auder and Wendy & Lisa, L’Rain feat. Voices from the NYC Trans Oral History Project, Sam Smith and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, and André 3000.

Meanwhile, a total of 100 artists feature on the full-length 46-track album, which is divided into eight chapters, each one representing a colour in the pride flag.

Read this next: Ambient composer Beverly Glenn-Copeland reveals dementia diagnosis

‘Young Lion’ is part of the chapter entitled ‘Liberation’.

Sharing news of the track via Instagram, Adu writes: “Trans people have always existed, with many different names across time and culture, often as spiritual healers and leaders.

"As global systems continue to fail humanity and all life on Earth, the journey taken by trans people – and all peoples who have been oppressed – is a blueprint of possibility. May this be a glimpse of our collective liberation, and the light inside all of us.”

The singer last released music in 2018 when Sade wrote the track ‘The Big Unknown’ for Steve McQueen's film Widows.

Sade has not put out a full-length album since 2010’s ‘Soldier of Love’, although rumours of a new album being recorded surfaced in 2022.

Listen to 'Young Lion' below and ‘TRAИƧA: Selects’ here.

Pre-order the full compilation album here.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram