Seinabo Sey is Sweden’s Beyonce or Alicia Keys of sorts: a magnificent black beauty with a voice of an old-time diva who uses it to create pop music that penetrates one’s soul. I loved her first album “Pretend”, from which, I’m sure, you’ve all heard the song “Younger” at least once. Her newest album, “I’m A Dream”, is even more haunting, and was inspired, in part, by the passing of Sey’s father, Maudo Sey, himself a prominent musician from Gambia. Seinabo Sey’s voice is so rich, it’s like molasses cut with syrup and thickened with starch, and her lyrics are incredibly wise for such a young musician. Pitchfork called the music on this album “formulaic” but I like that it has this breathless dance-y quality, and does not distract from the meaning.
I’m A Dream by Seinabo Sey
Released by Universal Music in 2018
