Chicago-based soul singer, poet and activist Jamila Woods will partner with Jagjaguwar and her original label home, Chicago’s respected hip-hop incubator Closed Sessions for the proper release of her beloved 2016 album HEAVN. And to celebrate she’s released a video for “Holy.” “Holy” — as well an unreleased alternative version produced by Dee Lilly — is available today via streaming services for the first time. A declaration of self-love and self-preservation, “Holy” puts on full display what Pitchfork called “a singular mix of clear-eyed optimism and Black girl magic.” “I wrote ‘Holy’ to remind myself that my worth is not dependent on anyone or anything outside of me. For the video I wanted to represent self-care as a sacred act, to make ordinary daily rituals in bedrooms and bathtubs feel magical,” says Woods. With additional album standout, “Blk Girl Soldier” — also streaming across all services today — Woods’ dynamic and absolutely necessary-for-these-times message and voice can reach even more hearts and minds.
The video for “Holy” was directed by Sam Bailey, a close collaborator of Woods. The captivating video dwells in surrealism as much as it does gospel. Not only a singer/songwriter and outspoken activist on Chicago’s south side, Woods is also a poet and associate artistic director of Young Chicago Authors; a non profit organization started in 2001 with the intent to give Chicago youth a platform to share their stories across the city and home of Chicago’s longest running youth open mic in the city. Her debut, HEAVN, features some of her finest Chicago contemporaries — Chance the Rapper, Noname, Saba, Peter Cottontale, Kweku Collins and oddCouple.
Full details of the Jagjaguwar/Closed Sessions physical and digital release of HEAVN are coming soon.
