After a six-year hiatus, the legendary neo-soul singer Sade is making a powerful return with a new track titled “Young Lion,” dedicated to her son, Izaak Theo Adu, a trans man.
The song will be featured on Transa (stylized as TRAИƧA), a benefit album produced by the Red Hot Organization, aimed at raising awareness and support for transgender and non-binary individuals.
Sade, a four-time Grammy Award winner, is known for her deeply emotional music, and “Young Lion” is no exception. In the song, she sings:
“Young man, it’s been so heavy for you/ You must have felt so alone… I should have known/ Shine like a sun/ You have everything you need,” offering a heartfelt message to her son and, by extension, to the broader transgender community.
Transa, set to be released on Nov. 11, is described as a “spiritual journey across 8 chapters and 46 songs” by the New York Times.
The album features contributions from groundbreaking trans and non-binary artists, as well as allies like Sam Smith, André 3000, Clairo, and Moses Sumney. It aims to highlight the resilience and creativity of the trans community in a world often hostile to their existence.
Red Hot’s executive director Dust Reid explained the significance of the album, saying, “We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society… Whether you identify as trans or non-binary or otherwise, if you took the time to explore your gender, maybe we would have a future oriented around values of community, collaboration, care, and healing.”
Sade’s last musical contributions were in 2018 with songs featured on movie soundtracks like A Wrinkle in Time and Widows, making “Young Lion” her first standalone track since then. Her 2010 album Soldier of Love remains her most recent full-length release.
Transa and Sade’s contribution are part of a larger mission to foster greater understanding and visibility for the transgender community.
The Red Hot Organization has raised over $15 million through previous releases, and this latest project is poised to continue making an impact.
Fans are already responding with excitement and admiration for Sade’s powerful return, praising both her musical talents and her advocacy for the transgender community.
