Renowned for her soulful voice and emotionally charged songwriting, Lady Blackbird is back with her highly anticipated second studio album, Slang Spirituals. Building on the success of her debut, Black Acid Soul, which garnered critical acclaim and a global following, Lady Blackbird continues to carve out her own musical universe—one that is raw, liberating, and deeply personal.
The album’s first taste, “Reborn,” hits listeners with a thunderous beat and an anthem of resilience and self-acceptance. In her powerful lyrics, Lady Blackbird sings, “We die a little to be born again, so I drowned her in flames/ And now she’s been reborn,” capturing the essence of transformation and triumph. The track exemplifies her fearless approach to music—unapologetic and full of vitality.
Collaborating once again with Black Acid Soul producer Chris Seefried, Lady Blackbird crafts an album that is both sonically diverse and emotionally profound. From the sweeping, cinematic grandeur of “Let Not (Your Heart Be Troubled)” to the folk storytelling of “Man On A Boat,” and the euphoric gospel empowerment of “Like A Woman,” Slang Spirituals showcases her extraordinary vocal range and heartfelt songwriting. The album also features a sprawling seven-minute psychedelic soul instrumental, “When The Game Is Played On You,” epitomizing her willingness to experiment and push boundaries.
Lady Blackbird’s journey is one of self-discovery and liberation. Raised in a religious Christian household in Farmington, New Mexico, she began singing as a child but soon felt constrained by the rigid doctrines she was taught. As a teenager, she faced the additional challenge of embracing her identity as a queer woman, often feeling judged and outcast. Her music becomes her sanctuary—a space where she rewrites her story and finds her true voice.
“I had to dig my way out of a grave to finally breathe and sing about who I really am,” Lady Blackbird reflects. “This album is about freedom, acceptance, and living without hypocrisy. I believe many people can relate to that human quest for self-empowerment.”
Her debut album, Black Acid Soul, earned rave reviews and was celebrated worldwide, including an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show” that captivated audiences and even left Taylor Swift in admiration. As she continues to evolve as an artist, Lady Blackbird’s message remains clear: authenticity and self-love are the ultimate triumphs.
Slang Spirituals not only marks a new chapter in her musical journey but also stands as a testament to her resilience and unwavering dedication to truth. As she puts it, “This is my journey of becoming—rewriting the book to show the world who I truly am.”
With Slang Spirituals, Lady Blackbird continues to inspire, reminding us all of the power of owning our stories and singing our truth.
Your album Slang Spirituals has been celebrated for its unique blend of gospel, classic soul, and psychedelia. How did you develop this distinctive sound, and what inspired you to merge these genres?
When Chris and I are in the studio writing and creating these songs, we’re open to whatever sound they take on but we also strongly focused on the lyrical narrative of self acceptance to focus the album. Because that was so consistent, we felt we could be musically divergent. At the end of the day, we are doing “acid soul”. They are all sub genres of soul, folk soul, psychedelic soul, art soul and “soul” may be a sub genre genre of gospel, etc.. They are all tied together and they’re all things that I relate to
and have been greatly influenced by.
Performing at Blue Note is a significant milestone for any artist. What was like it like performing there and what do you love about the venue?
It was an amazing experience. I love the Blue note. We have played them in Milan, Japan, Napa but this was the first time doing it In New York. Both shows were sold out and that was very special to me because it was New York!! It’s an honor.
Slang Spirituals made several year-end best-of lists, including KCRW, Goldmine, and Mojo. How does it feel to receive such recognition, and which accolade meant the most to you personally?
I’m so grateful for all of them. I don’t think I could pick a personal favorite. The fact that this album has been so well received, something we’ve worked so hard on and it being such a personal journey for me, is surreal and humbling. It’s so touching when I receive any of them honestly.
You’ve collaborated with artists like Billy Porter, Moby, and Chaka Khan. How have these experiences shaped your approach to music and your work on Slang Spirituals?
“Slang spirituals” was written and recorded before these collaborations, so they didn’t necessarily shape anything regarding the album, but it’s been such an incredible opportunity to be able to work with people that I’ve been such big fans of since I was a child. It’s been a dream Come true!!
Growing up in a religious Christian household in New Mexico, how did your background influence the themes of freedom and self-acceptance in Slang Spirituals?
Growing up in a religious household shaped “Slang spirituals”
In every way really. It started years ago with writing the hook to “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”. Once we came up with the album title, “Slang Spirituals”, we knew we had a hook that fit with the spirituals concept. Musically we were aware of that idea and lyrically I felt like I was using my life experiences to re-address the book and to “preach” acceptance, wanting the listener and the people who attend the shows to feel a sense of freedom and love and to be who they are.
You’ve described Slang Spirituals as a reflection of your journey to find yourself and radiate who you are without apology. Can you share a specific moment or experience that shaped this album’s message?
The timeline that I reflect back to most intently, is as a teenager, when I started to figure out who I was. I started seeing the church and the people that called themselves “Christians” were not accepting of me. That was a painful dawning. I suppose that was the moment when I realized the religious path was not the one for me.
Your performance on The Graham Norton Show( which I happened to watch) left an impression on artists like Taylor Swift and Bono. What was that experience like for you, and how does it feel to know your music resonates with such influential figures?
That was another complete surreal moment. I’ve watched the Graham Norton show since I was a kid and have been such a fan. To be able to share the couch with these superstars was truly a magical moment for me!
As a queer woman, how has your personal journey of identity and empowerment influenced the lyrical and emotional depth of Slang Spirituals?
It shaped the whole album
You’ve mentioned taking charge of your life and sound. How did this mindset shift impact the creative process behind Slang Spirituals compared to your previous work?
“Black Acid Soul”, which I love, was an album of mainly covers. There is “Fix It”, “Five Feet Tall” and “Nobody”s Sweetheart”, all songs I love and am proud of but “Slang spirituals” being a body of original work, gave me the opportunity to sing my own stories. So when they connect with people it feels deeper.
For fans attending your shows, what can they expect from your live performance, and how does Slang Spirituals come to life on stage compared to the studio recordings?
It depends on the show you see. Depending on the room we’re playing. Sometimes Chris and I go out as a duo, which we did in arenas opening for Moby, other times its with the full band and other times Its acoustic instruments. Its nice to present the music in differs t ways depending on the setting because the songs on “Slang Spirituals” seem to convey in a multitude of ways but in general, there is always a much bigger energy in the live show. That comes from being able to bring the record to life in front of an audience.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
