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.

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Artist Spotlight

Brannen captures life’s fleeting moments on “Keep Dancing With Me”

Moments can be short and to the point, and that’s the idea behind Brannen’s “Keep Dancing With Me,“ a melodic house track that’s more about feeling than function. The track is reflective and dancefloor-ready, and it’s about living in the moment and holding onto the things that make life worth living.

Brannen uses the uplifting qualities of house to create a sense of warmth and connection. The lively, uplifting instrumental firmly puts “Keep Dancing With Me“ in the melodic house category while also exploring the deeper, more emotional side of dance music. That balance has enough energy to get you moving, but the overall direction stays rooted in feeling and atmosphere.

A strong studio team is also on board, with sound engineer Brian Hurren handling recording and Jack Wiles handling mixing and mastering at Moonshift Audio. Built on emotive vocal performance, the track lends human emotion to the slick electronic soundscape. The vocals complement the song’s main message without detracting from its instrumental nature.

“Keep Dancing With Me” positions Brannen as an artist interested in the connection between dance music and real emotion. The uplifting sound, expressive vocal presence, and focus on fleeting but meaningful experiences give the release clear artistic direction. The best thing about the track is that it treats dancing as a way of staying in a moment before it’s gone.

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Artist Spotlight

Lisa Jo brings high-energy rap attitude with latest release “Exotic”

Lisa Jo steps up to the plate with a hard-hitting rap single titled “Exotic”. Catchy, melodic bounce, high-octane energy, and a flow that gets stuck in your head. It has the swagger of a car stereo or club anthem, giving it a sense of motion right away. If you’re a head who likes their hip-hop served up with lots of energy, “Exotic” runs the gamut from the cinematic bass line to the infectious delivery.

The song is strong in how the elements mix. The melody’s bounce keeps the track alive and memorable, and Lisa Jo’s razor-sharp lyricism gives her rap style a targeted edge. Exotic is not background music; it’s something that needs to be heard, loud from speakers working out, loud in a club, loud on a drive.

“Exotic” is a classic, high-energy hip-hop track with an infectious flow, bass, and bounce. But Lisa Jo’s no-nonsense, energetic presence feels like it belongs on workout, new-wave rap, and party playlists. It’s a release that keeps the energy going from first beat to last.

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