Bow by Sault (featuring Michael Kiwanuka)

Album: Untitled (Black Is) (2020)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

Sault is an anonymous British neo-soul collective who released two albums of afro-futurist soul in 2020 that shared an empowering mission with the Black Lives Matters movement. Mojo magazine reports that there was for a time much mystery regarding the band as they don't do any interviews and stay defiantly unphotographed. The quartet was eventually unmasked as Michael Kiwanuka studio collaborator Inflo and West London singer Cleo Sol, assisted by bassist and keyboard player Kadeem Clarke and Illinois rapper Kid Sister, aka Melissa Young. This song is from their third album, Untitled (Black Is).
Michael Kiwanuka is listed as a featured artist on the song. The singer adapts the tones of his Ugandan heritage as he shouts out various African Nations over Inflo's spiralling beats.
Sault released Untitled (Black Is) in response to the murder of George Floyd by white policeman Derek Chauvin. The band said:

"We present our first 'Untitled' album to mark a moment in time where we as Black People, and of Black Origin are fighting for our lives. RIP George Floyd and all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism. Change is happening... We are focused."
Untitled (Black Is) was met with widespread critical acclaim; NPR ranked it their Best Album of 2020 and BBC 6 Music named the record as their #1 recommended album of the year.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

ProblemAriana Grande

Ariana Grande's hit "Problem" started off as a track written by One Direction songwriter Savan Kotecha. He gave it the working title of "The Whisper Song," after a 2005 Ying Yang Twins hit.

Papa Don't PreachMadonna

Madonna didn't write "Papa Don't Preach," which deals with abortion. What drew her to the song was the singer standing up to male authority.

My Name IsEminem

Eminem's first hit was "My Name Is," which introduced his alter ego, Slim Shady.

ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson conceived "Dancing Queen" as a dance song with the working title "Boogaloo," drawing inspiration from the 1974 George McCrae disco hit "Rock Your Baby." Their manager Stig Anderson came up with the title "Dancing Queen."

No More I Love You'sAnnie Lennox

The Annie Lennox hit "No More I Love You's" is a cover, originally sung by a man.

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)Sly & the Family Stone

Sly & the Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" was a huge hit in 1970 and found new life when Janet Jackson sampled the bass riff on her 1989 hit "Rhythm Nation."