Connect with us

Music

Jamila Woods Delivered A Divine Rendition Of Her Moving Track ‘Sula (Paperback)’ On ‘The Late Show’

The moving song is inspired by Toni Morrison’s 1973 novel of the same name. …

Chicago singer Jamila Woods shared her acclaimed LP Legacy! Legacy!, which stood as a tribute to several Black artists and visionaries throughout history, back in 2019. Woods followed up the album last August with “Sula (Paperback),” a tribute to the late Toni Morrison one year after her death. On Wednesday, Woods brought her moving Morrison tribute to a tranquil performance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Taking the dimly lit stage backed by a full band, including a string section, Woods tenderly delivered a moving rendition of the song. “Sula (Paperback)” is inspired by Toni Morrison’s 1973 novel Sula and is penned from the perspective of protagonist Sula Peace and her relationship depicted in the book. Speaking about her inspiration behind the single in a statement, Woods said:

“It’s the first Toni Morrison novel I ever read and it inspired the first chapbook of poems I ever wrote. The novel shows the evolution of a friendship between two Black women and how they choose to navigate society’s strict gender roles and rules of respectability. On Sula, Toni Morrison wrote, ‘living totally by the law and surrendering totally to it without questioning anything sometimes makes it impossible to know anything about yourself.’ Returning to the story several years later, it gave me permission to reject confining ideas about my identity designed to shrink my spirit. It reminded me to embrace my tenderness, my sensitivities, my ways of being in my body. This song is a mantra to allow myself space to experience my gender, love, intimacy, and sexuality on my own terms.”

Watch Woods perform “Sula (Paperback)” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert above.

Advertisement

Pop

BR!LEY turns waiting into art with heartfelt new release “The Long Game”

BR!LEY

BR! LEY’s most recent single, “The Long Game,” is a moving look at how love can be both hopeful and sad at once. BR!LEY uses a personal and confessional singing style to turn the common experience of waiting for someone into a movie-like story that everyone can relate to.

The track combines indie-alternative sounds with a warm, melodic glow that gives each note life. The lively, colorful instruments bring out the emotional depth of the lyrics, creating a contrast that is both exciting and sad. BR!LEY’s performance brings “The Long Game” to life in a way that goes beyond music, it helps people dealing with unrequited love or long-lasting desire.

What stands out is how BR!LEY captures the quiet tension of waiting. The song embraces openness and honesty, turning feelings of longing into a song everyone can sing along to. This music captures the feeling of being frustrated by loving someone who isn’t entirely yours, while also leaving you hopeful in the meantime.

In “The Long Game,” BR!LEY shows that hope, thoughtfulness, and even joy can be found in patience. BR!LEY is known for creating an atmosphere that lingers long after the music ends. This track is a powerful reminder that patience can be both beautiful and very important for people who have had to choose between desire and devotion.

Advertisement

Connect with BR!LEY on Spotify || Instagram || Youtube || Tiktok

Continue Reading

Pop

Jeff Hodges melds soulful honesty with uplifting warmth with new release “True Heart”

Jeff Hodges

Jeff Hodges’ latest single, “True Heart,” is a great example of how to combine emotional honesty with great music. From the first note, the song makes listeners feel like they are part of a personal, heartfelt conversation. Hodges’ emotional singing is the most important part of the song. He sings each line with a sensitivity and warmth that is both moving and uplifting.

What makes “True Heart” stand out is its deliberate simplicity, the track’s emotional core shines through because the production is kept to a minimum. When the gospel choir sings along, the song gets better. It adds layers of warmth and spiritual depth, making it more emotionally powerful without being too much. This mix of subtle instruments and emotional harmonies creates a soundscape that is both inviting and evocative.

Hodges skillfully mixes pop, folk, and soul to make a piece that is both easy to understand and very powerful. The genres blend in a way that feels natural and elegant, which is what the song is all about. Every note and pause seems planned, which brings out the themes of honesty and uplift that run through the piece.

“True Heart” is an experience, it speaks to the listener with quiet strength, offering comfort and motivation simultaneously. Jeff Hodges says that sincerity in music can still resonate, lift, and make a big difference, even in a time when production often overshadows emotion.

Advertisement

Connect with Jeff Hodges on Spotify

Continue Reading

Video Of The Week

Trending