In the dead of night, listen closely for the beating wings of Tanika Charles: the Toronto R&B/soul dynamo is back and reflecting light with the release of her third album.
Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly lands today via Record Kicks/Unique Applause. It follows Charles's Polaris Music Prize long-listed sophomore LP, 2019's The Gumption — which was among Exclaim!'s 10 Best Soul, Funk and World Albums that year.
Of all things, she drew inspiration from the album's titular winged creatures — known less-poetically as moths. While we don't often consider the nocturnal insects in the same light as their colourful butterfly counterparts, the artist was struck by the way the terminology of the French language transformed her perception.
"I thought that was the most beautiful description for this otherwise overlooked creature," she said of the term. "When I later learned of the symbolism associated with it, I felt that really spoke to both my own situation and also what we've all been going through."
The isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic admittedly took Charles to some dark places, especially when her tour plans for The Gumption fell through. On Papillon, she lets her growth become the guiding light and discovers an unmistakable new touch for knowing which settings best showcase her instrument.
With guest appearances by Polaris short-listed Toronto MC DijahSB and multi-disciplinarian Khari Wendell McClelland of the Sojourners, Charles was able to come back to herself in the midst of grief by working on the record in and out of lockdowns, which allowed her "to explore these feelings through the format [she] know[s] best."
The results sound brilliantly lit from within — and the singer-songwriter knows it.
"I think this album represents my best work to date. And yet, it also represents me coming to terms with who I am as an artist," Charles added in a statement. "For the first time I think I've actually accepted my own voice."
Listen to Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly below, and read Exclaim!'s review.
Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly lands today via Record Kicks/Unique Applause. It follows Charles's Polaris Music Prize long-listed sophomore LP, 2019's The Gumption — which was among Exclaim!'s 10 Best Soul, Funk and World Albums that year.
Of all things, she drew inspiration from the album's titular winged creatures — known less-poetically as moths. While we don't often consider the nocturnal insects in the same light as their colourful butterfly counterparts, the artist was struck by the way the terminology of the French language transformed her perception.
"I thought that was the most beautiful description for this otherwise overlooked creature," she said of the term. "When I later learned of the symbolism associated with it, I felt that really spoke to both my own situation and also what we've all been going through."
The isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic admittedly took Charles to some dark places, especially when her tour plans for The Gumption fell through. On Papillon, she lets her growth become the guiding light and discovers an unmistakable new touch for knowing which settings best showcase her instrument.
With guest appearances by Polaris short-listed Toronto MC DijahSB and multi-disciplinarian Khari Wendell McClelland of the Sojourners, Charles was able to come back to herself in the midst of grief by working on the record in and out of lockdowns, which allowed her "to explore these feelings through the format [she] know[s] best."
The results sound brilliantly lit from within — and the singer-songwriter knows it.
"I think this album represents my best work to date. And yet, it also represents me coming to terms with who I am as an artist," Charles added in a statement. "For the first time I think I've actually accepted my own voice."
Listen to Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly below, and read Exclaim!'s review.
