Dawn Richard – “chuuuuurch” (Feat. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph)

Dawn Richard's upcoming album Creole Culture is shaping up to be something special. It's a further exploration into Richard's New Orleans roots, something that she's already dug into on past albums, and she recorded it with drummer/producer Greg Paul and his Katalyst collective. The early singles, "enough" and the Durand Bernarr duet "baby, can we?," suggest that it'll showcase Richard at her funkiest and most linear, and that's also what I hear in her new song. "chuuuuurch," the third single from Creole Culture, is an attitudinal dancefloor anthem with a great early-'90s-style house bassline and some assistance from New Orleans singer Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph. It's inspired by the wild and sometimes traumatic decades that Richard has spent in the music business. She really gives herself a chance to flex on it, delivering affirmations about as energetically as anyone could. In a press release, Richard says:"chuuuuurch" is really a conversation with myself — addressing my journey through this industry and the many times I’ve had to remind myself of who I am. Culturally, saying "church" is its own kind of affirmation. It’s "amen." It’s "you right." And sometimes, when no one else is there to affirm you, you have to amen yourself. The song mirrors that journey musically. It moves through gospel, bounce and dance music, with nods to the energy of Crystal Waters and La Bouche. It keeps building, almost like a service, until all of those influences exist in the same space. It’s playful, honest, and deeply musical, a reminder that sometimes you have to be your own congregation.Zebretta Johnson directed the glamorous and kinetic "chuuuuurch" video, and it's got some animation from Dawn Richard herself. Check it out below.Creole Culture is out 10/9 on Merge.