Sudan Archives has returned with “DEAD,” her first new single since breaking through off the strength of her fantastic 2022 album, Natural Brown Prom Queen.
“DEAD,” according to a press release, is the result of Sudan Archives touring with Andre 3000, Caroline Polachek, and Tame Impala, “imagining a new, advanced version of herself” during these shows. She took everything she'd learned on stage and on the road back to the lab. "DEAD" is the result.
The track is an uplifting dance cut built around swelling string suites and a a pulsing four-on-the-floor bass groove that is eventually joined by distorted synths and vintage-sounding drum machines. Layers of vocals turn this into a digital, futuristic orchestral performance, presenting a thrilling new vision from one of LA’s most exciting artists. It’s worth noting that Sudan Archives envisioned the single as exploring “the possibilities of orchestral Black dance music.”
Check out the music video for the excellent “DEAD”—which was recorded in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Detroit—below.
