Amaal makes her debut with Black Dove, her first studio EP, out today via Universal Music Canada/Public Records. The rising Somali-Canadian R&B artist has been named a new artist to watch after her first single, “Not What I Thought,” received over 1 million views on YouTube. On Black Dove, Amaal continues to make a strong impression, showcasing her powerful intuition musically and emotionally. “Amaal has mastered the art of pairing airy but commanding vocals with pulsing production” The Fader revered. Her single “Coming and Going” was named one of the best music releases of the week by both Nylon and The Independent, while “Not What I Thought” led Amaal to be featured as Apple Canada’s best new artist of the week in February.
In tandem with the release of Black Dove, Amaal shares her video for “Later”. Directed by Kat Webber, who’s best known for directing videos for SZA’s “Garden” and Drake’s “Nice For What,” as well as Amaal’s video for “Coming & Going.” The video for “Later” is dedicated to FEAT, a bus program that brings families across Ontario to visit incarcerated loved ones. Based on Amaal’s personal experience, both the song and video illustrate the journey one chooses to endure for love and the sense of community built in the process of doing so.
Speaking on the inspiration behind Black Dove, Amaal shared, “this EP represents the me that I was afraid to talk about. The me that I kept hidden out of fear of judgment. For the longest time I’ve put on this front of what a strong woman represents and what it means to me. But as I’ve manoeuvred through my womanhood alongside other women going through similar things I realized true strength is in breaking down to rebuild. Showing vulnerability and being real about adversity. Getting in front of your fears and allowing yourself to grow regardless of the outcome. Black dove to me means freedom. Freedom from my own captivity. Freedom from the shackles society and I have placed on myself. The freedom of no longer committing a disservice to myself and owning every part of me.”
Stream the EP “Black Dove” below or here on Spotify.
