Following the recent release of her critically acclaimed ‘The Things I Can’t Wake With Me’ EP on Big Dada, Yaya Bey has unveiled a remix of her ‘september 13th’ single by DC based producer DJ Nativesun. “‘september 13th’ was made in a heavy time,” says Bey, “but the remix makes it light. It’s more like dancing the pain away.”
The original track, a song about “the day I realized the relationship I fought so hard for would never be the same”, was released earlier this year alongside a video directed by Morgan Powell and Michael Grant and was taken from her recent EP ‘The Things I Can’t Take With Me’—a record that was met with praise from the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, DAZED, The Observer, Okayplayer, Bandcamp, FADER, NYLON, HotNewHipHop and many more. Bey was also highlighted by Rolling Stone for their ‘Artists you need to Know’ series, with Harper’s Bazaar most recently including “you up?” in their ‘15 Best Love Songs of 2021 So Far’.
A multidisciplinary artist noted for her collage work—labeled “a force to be reckoned with in the art world” by Essence Magazine, with acclaim from Solange’s Saint Heron agency and two residencies at Brooklyn’s MoCADA Museum to date—Bey also produced a collection of new prints, released alongside her essay ‘Why we owe the hood everything... I'll get to that eventually’, and sold via Bandcamp with a portion of the proceeds going to The Free Black Women's Library.
On ‘The Things I Can’t Take With Me’, Bey manoeuvres effortlessly from heartbroken introspection towards a newfound security, denouncing the wack morals of an industry dude and embracing her own agency as a “bad bitch”, as she works her way through a breakup that triggered the deepest of wounds: the childhood trauma that resurfaces in our relationships. The release came together unexpectedly when Bey set out to record her next album. After her relationship ended, the direction of the project took a detour. “[The album] is going to be about the journey home to self,” Bey explained. “But on the way, there’s all this shit I gotta let go of, just the things I can’t take with me.” So, she allowed herself to make the music she needed to make, drawing on breakthroughs in therapy to process her grief and move forward.
supported by 17 fans who also own “september 13th (DJ Nativesun Remix)”
Like so many others, this came like a bolt out of the blue and, even though it's well before payday, I had to have this astonishing album on vinyl to prove it exists. The feel of the tunes makes me feel like the Impressions do, Curtis Mayfield, the big spaces and instinctive horns and stuff drifting in and out. Great grooves and I can see lots of ghosts nodding along to this with big smiles on their faces. At last! Anthony Cottrell
Breezy, lush R&B perfect for warm weather, inspired by Afro-Indigenous artist Clara Kent's heritage, culture, and personal journey. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 6, 2023
supported by 16 fans who also own “september 13th (DJ Nativesun Remix)”
My whole body agrees with the pace of this short but solid track list. A generous helping of acoustic rhythm samples ignited by breakbeats add extra attention to full range movement on the dancefloor. Not a beat wasted. cherub420