The reclusive singer-songwriter will release “Young Lion” as part of the “Transa” benefit album, arriving on Nov. 22. The project, assembled by non-profit Red Hot, is intended to support transgender awareness and spotlights both trans and non-binary artists. “Young Lion” is dedicated to Sade’s son Izaak, who identifies as a transgender man.
“We started talking about all the gifts that trans artists have been giving to the world, and wanted to create a Red Hot project that centered and celebrated those gifts,” says Dust Reid, who put together “Transa” alongside artist Massima Bell. “We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society insofar as the deep inner work they do to affirm who they are in our current climate. We felt this is something everybody should do. Whether you identify as trans or non-binary or otherwise, if you took the time to explore your gender, get in touch with the feeling side of yourself, maybe we would have a future oriented around values of community, collaboration, care, and healing.”
“Transa,” which features over three-and-a-half hours of music, includes a mix of covers and exclusive tracks from Sam Smith, André 3000 and Jeff Tweedy. The project has over 100 contributing artists, and is structured across eight chapters and 46 songs — a nod to the eight-stripe rainbow pride flag. Its first single comes from longtime Prince collaborators Wendy & Lisa alongside Lauren Auder on a cover of “I Would Die 4 U.”
Reid and Bell first began compiling “Transa” in 2021 over their shared love of Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s music, and were inspired to continue work on the project following musician Sophie’s death early that year.
Sade’s “Young Lion” is the first new song from Sade and her band since a pair of soundtrack offerings in 2018, as “Flower of the Universe” and “The Big Unknown” were included on “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Widows,” respectively. Prior to that, she put out a cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Still in Love With You” for the group’s 2011 compilation album “The Ultimate Collection.”
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