DAWN – jealousy

Electronic and R&B innovator DAWN (formerly Dawn Richard) returns to the solo stage today for the first time since 2016 with a powerful new single and a hypnotic music video. “Jealousy,” out today, is the first taste of DAWN’s new album set for release in early 2019 through Local Action/Our Dawn Entertainment – details coming soon.

With “Jealousy,” DAWN goes back to her roots, drawing from the “strength, power, vulnerability and culture” of her native New Orleans. The city’s rich musical heritage and the traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians come to the forefront of her music and visuals on both this single and forthcoming full-length project.

The video, directed by regular collaborator Monty Marsh, features Chief Montana of the Washitaw Nation, a tribe that has been in DAWN’s family for generations. One of the first women in history to be given permission to wear a chief’s headdress, DAWN is featured wearing traditional Washitaw Nation garb hand-sewn by Montana himself in the video.
DAWN explains the idea behind the song and video:

“Jealousy is a conversational record.

“Everyone experiences the encounter with their partners’ ex differently. This record explains how a ninth ward girl from New Orleans handled hers. The verse is my honest letter to the ex and her admission to jealousy is the hook. This song speaks on how jealousy can be a drug.

“The Visual explains my roots in the Washitaw Nation Tribe. I wanted to show New Orleans in a light most have never seen or are aware of. The Black Indian and Power of our traditional garb are shown in the visual. Chief Montana created my hand sewn headpiece representing the power of being both King and Queen. Our tribes spend all year beading these costumes to then dance and show off their work among other tribes. I used this practice as a metaphor for my response to his ex. Simply that I’ve put a lot of work beading and sewing my relationship, something she will never understand or never be able to do.”

DAWN’s previously released trilogy of solo records garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Fader, FACT and more. She was also a featured guest vocalist on Dirty Projectors’ latest album. She will be on tour with her former Danity Kane band-mates under the banner DK3 this September/October, and also plays Adult Swim Festival this November, where she has been a curator and designer for the cable channel. As an actress, she was recently featured in the new season of HBO series Insecure, as well as the movies Five Weddings and Kinky, both out this Autumn.

Watch this space for more DAWN news and music coming soon: https://smarturl.it/dawnjealousy