Are you sitting down? Because you’re going to want to prepare yourself for this. Three years on from CTRL, multi-platinum selling angel SZA is back with a new single (her first as the lead artist since then) called “Hit Different”. With guest vocals from Ty Dolla $ign, the smooth mid-tempo track of two halves tells the story of an unhealthy relationship that she can’t get enough of; the pre-chorus begging “All”. The track was produced by The Neptunes, something which she told Apple Music was a childhood dream come true. “I can’t really wrap my head around the experience,” she said. “I’m fangirling off of having a track produced by probably the most formative producers and artists for me when I was growing up.”
There’s more! SZA directed the song’s stunning music video, released late last night, herself — a first for the artist — calling on Parris Goebel to choreograph her and a group of melanated beauties as they move through an abandoned scrapyard with a pleasing muted orange palette. You can also expect an appearance from featured artist Ty, a llama, some truly exquisite beaded Cleopatra braids, a big old stack of hay bales and SZA as blood-soaked Carrie… for no clear reason but we’re here for it.
The release of “Hit Different” comes after a series of since-deleted tweets by SZA made clear that her forthcoming music had been delayed, alluding to a difficult relationship with record label bosses at Top Dawg Entertainment. Here’s hoping the drop is a sign that issues have been worked through and that more music is on the way!
Also on this week’s i-D playlist is “FREAK” from London star Shygirl — a forward-thinking party tune produced by longtime collaborator and NUXXE sibling Sega Bodega that features sexier sounds than “Je T’aime Moi Non Plus”. Ian Isiah’s impressive AUNTIE album came out this week, and we selected the funk-filled “First Love” to follow, alongside “Rolling Empires” from London producer Happa’s very fun EP, Explorations In Music For Dancing: Volume 1. Then there’s the energetic “Tell Me A Ting”, a collaborative effort from D Double E and Kano and the first track from the former’s forthcoming D.O.N — also due to feature Ghetts, Giggs and Ms Banks.
Like that wasn’t already enough to satiate your musical appetite, you’ll also find new releases from Korean artist CIFIKA, Spanish singer-songwriter-producer Sila Lua, Yung T and Bugsey in collaboration with French artist Dadju, Vzion, Gus Dapperson, MORGAN, Yuna, Sampha, Theodor Black and more.