Young Lion is the new song from recording artist Sade and it’s to honour her son Izaak Theo Adu who is transgender.

The track is from a new compilation TRA​И​Ƨ​A which brings together over 100 artists for a spiritual journey across 8 chapters and 46 songs, spotlighting the gifts of many of the most daring, imaginative trans and non-binary artists working today.

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Sade, and her band who share her name, were one of the biggest recording artists of the 80s and 90s, but they’ve released little music in the last two decades – so a new song from the group is a big deal.

After bringing out three chart-topping albums as the frontwoman of the band that shares her name in the 1980s with hits like Smooth Operator, Sweetest Taboo and You Love is King, she’s only put out three more albums in the intervening three decades.

The other three members of Sade, Stuart Mathewman, Paul Denman and Andrew Hale have made music without Adu on vocals. Sans Sade the trio put music out under the name Sweetback and they’ve worked with a host of guest vocalists such as Leroy Osbourne, Amel Larrieux, Maxwell, Aya, Bahamadia and El Debage. Mathewman has also worked on many of Maxwell’s albums as a producer and writer.

The band reportedly spent some time in the studios in 2022 working on an upcoming seventh album.

US based non-profit group the Red Hot Organisation has spent decades raising funds for HIV support and awareness of safe sex campaigns. Over the years they’ve released many charity compilations in different genres. Sade previously contributed to a collection honouring African musician Fela Kuti.

Among the artists contributing to the new collection is Julien Baker, Mary Lattimore, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Devendra Banhart, Jeff Tweedy, Moses Sumney, Bill Callhan, Andre 3000, Perfume Genius, Arthur Baker and the late Pharoah Sanders, plus many others.

Another much anticipated track on the record is Sam Smith, Moses Sumney and Lyra Pramuk delivering a cover of Sylvester’s You make Me Feel (Mighty Real). While Rachika Nayar, Julianna Barwick and Cassandra Croft will supply a cover of Tim Buckely’s Song to the Siren.

Hero Image: Cover of Soldier of Love CD.