MATT B SPREADS HIS WINGS ON “FREEDOM” FEAT. MOTSWANA MO ERONGO
FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM ALKEBULAN OUT AUGUST 18TH PRE-ORDER HERE
GRAMMY-nominated global artist Matt B has released his new single “FREEDOM” featuring Motswana Mo Erongo, the latest from his forthcoming Afrobeats album ALKEBULAN (pronounced al-kee-boulan), out August 18th via Vitae Records. Drawing inspiration from the tale of a caged bird experiencing newfound freedom, the vibrant track encapsulates Matt’s transformative journey as he connects with Africa's deep-rooted culture over an abundance of rhythmic percussion and woodwinds amplified by harmonic chants. Filmed on the shores of Africa, the music video — directed by Matt’s multi-talented wife, manager, and producer Angela Benson — features captivating views of the Motherland as well as African dancers and a ceremonial campfire scene, further acknowledging the acceptance Matt experienced when he first stepped foot in Africa.
On the concept behind the track, Matt shares, “Earlier this year, I came down sick with COVID and I was quarantined in my room, writing and tweaking a bunch of different songs for the album. It was hard being locked away because I’m used to being on the go and a free spirit, but every morning when I looked out my window I would see a little bird sitting on my balcony. Every time it would fly away, I would long for that same freedom. As I thought deeper about that, it made me realize how a lot of us here in America are like caged birds. We long to know our roots and where we come from and are in constant search of finding their way ‘home.’ That feeling inspired me to write ‘FREEDOM,’ which depicts me as a bird traveling across the ocean in hopes of reconnecting with my ancestral roots. It’s a song of longing, connection, and celebration. My hope is that it will inspire others, especially African Americans, to dive deeper into their ancestry and eventually return home to the Motherland."
“FREEDOM” is the newest single from ALKEBULAN, a project well over three years in the making which pays homage to Matt’s African ancestry. The album is titled after the ancient name of the Motherland, meaning “Mother of Mankind,” and encompasses his journey of rediscovering his purpose and love for music while balancing his personal life and family dynamics. Namibian group Motswana Mo Erongo are one of several collaborations with African-based artists on the 10-track LP and joins album opener “BUYA EKHAYA” (meaning ‘come home’ in Zulu) featuring The Unveiled which introduces the record as a celebration of pride in where your roots are planted. Both songs will appear on ALKEBULAN alongside a collaboration with Ugaboys and a reimagined version of GRAMMY nominated hit “GIMME LOVE” featuring Ugandan superstar Eddy Kenzo. ALKEBULAN is available for pre-order here, full track listing below.
Earlier this year, Matt began bringing the project to life as he and his wife wore custom outfits by Jesse J Collections on the GRAMMYs red carpet, channeling the energy and presence of their ancestors who once reigned as kings and queens of Africa and sharing its importance and beauty with the new generation. More recently, this past weekend the pair hosted an ALKEBULAN pre-release celebration at The Village Studios offering an exclusive play-through of the album, private screening of forthcoming music videos, and a live performance, giving attendees a first look at what went into making this long-awaited and multifaceted project. You can watch the highlight reel of the celebration here.
Known for his romantically-driven R&B music, Matt B has cemented himself as a bona fide talent and a force to be reckoned with. The Chicago native and Los Angeles-based songsmith has built a worldwide fanbase with his chart-topping singles and albums including his 2014 international debut, Love & War, and sophomore album, DIVE. Both releases went #1 on the iTunes R&B Charts and were later followed by his 2018 EP, RISE, produced by GRAMMY-Award Winner Bryan-Michael Cox (Mariah Carey, Usher, Mary J. Blige). In 2021, he released his debut US album, EDEN, which featured production from Cox as well as Tricky Stewart (Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna) and landed in the Top 40 on Billboard’s R&B Albums, Digital Albums, Heatseekers, and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts. Since then, Matt B has released a string of eclectic singles including GRAMMY-nominated hit “Gimme Love” featuring Eddy Kenzo which debuted in the Top 50 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart and garnered media support from the likes of SPIN, 1883 Magazine, Rolling Out, Singersroom, and more.
