American singer and multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla talks about the inspiration behind her newest single, “Dodinin”, out now on all streaming services. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
This song is about revolution and really serves as a tribute to the revolutionary spirit of the enslaved peoples of Saint Dominique who overthrew the colonial powers and created the nation state of Haiti. From her upcoming album, Breaking the Thermometer (out May 6); the project follows Leyla’s journey into the history of Radio Haiti, the first radio station to report news in Haitian Creole.
“In Kreyòl, “Dodinin” means “Rocking,” and it’s a reference to the plantation owners sitting in their rocking chairs. It’s a song about revolution, with lyrics that basically say: it’s us who bake the bread, who get burned in the oven, who make the bed, who sleep on the floor, and the situation isn’t sustainable.” – Leyla McCalla
