Ghanian-American singer-songwriter Amaarae has detailed the follow-up to her 2023 record Fountain Baby. Black Star is scheduled to release August 8 via Interscope.
She has also shared the record's lead single "S.M.O.," a track that "unearths themes of sexual liberation and empowerment." It arrives a day after Juneteenth, and its music video — which was filmed in Ghana — is a celebration of the "beauty and power of the Black body."
Speaking of the new single, Amaarae shared, "For as long as I've made music, fusion has been my strength and I think this comes to full fruition on 'S.M.O.' The song takes inspiration from Ghanaian '80s highlife trailblazer Ata Kak and blends it with a mean Detroit club bass, drum roll akin to both Magic System's '1er Gaou' and Michael Jackson's 'Rock with You' and an infectious zouk melody that sounds like a steel pan lipsing [sic] an evil synth."
She continued, "I feel like the new Donna Summer mixed with Control era Janet, and the song pretty much speaks for itself. Like 'Pleasure Principle' or 'Love to Love You Baby,' I don't know how much clearer one can get when they ask you to 'SLUT ME OUT.' The message can't be mistaken and the beat makes you move. That's all I want to do this summer, make people dance & feel things!"
The full tracklist for Black Star has yet to be revealed. Watch the music video for "S.M.O." below.