Meshell Ndegeocello remakes classics with Cynthia Erivo and DESTIN CONRAD
Synonym pairs her with a different set of voices across 15 songs, including Moses Sumney, Chaka Khan and WILLOW.
Meshell Ndegeocello’s Synonym brings 15 familiar songs into a project built around newly paired voices. Released October 2 through Blue Note, it includes Cynthia Erivo on “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” and DESTIN CONRAD and Moses Sumney on “The Closer I Get To You.” It’s her third album for the label.
Familiar songs, newly paired voices
Chaka Khan joins “Islands In The Stream,” Lianne La Havas appears on “Don’t Look Any Further” and WILLOW takes part in “Hunger Strike.” Nick Hakim and Robert Glasper are credited on “Don’t Stop The Music,” while Laura Lee of Khruangbin joins “Always on Time.” The song choices cross soul, pop, folk, rock, country and hip-hop.
Ndegeocello made the album with David Gamson and Abe Rounds. Gamson produced her first two albums, Plantation Lullabies and Peace Beyond Passion, making this a reunion behind the desk too.
She described the project through queer liberation and the shared needs beneath people’s differences. Different voices and arrangements carry those familiar songs into new pairings. The official Cynthia Erivo audio arrived in August; the complete record ends with Bill Callahan and Chris Thile on “With God On Our Side.”
