photography by Jhana Parits
The combo we never knew we needed, but now can’t live without! On August 29th, two Swedish vocal powerhouses, LUCIIA and Sabina Ddumba, are blessing our airwaves with a new single, ‘HAPPENS’.
What happens when two (exceedingly talented) worlds collide? Something magical is born.
Rising R&B songstress LUCIIA is the new IT girl on the scene. Hailing from both Cuban and Swedish descent, LUCIIA is no stranger to standing out from the crowd. Her Cuban father is the lead of the band Afro Cuban Allstars and as such, it was the natural inspiration to follow his steps in becoming a performer. Being raised in an environment that radiates music, LUCIIA was destined for the stage. Her growing career has already garnered industry acclaim by prominent figures such as Coldplay, Naomi Campbell, and Chris Martin, as well as recognition from the Swedish Grammis and Manifest awards.
‘HAPPENS’ is the first – but will surely not be the last – of LUCIIA’s published work with a female feature. The feature is none other than Sweden’s Sabina Ddumba. Having been vocally schooled in the Church, finding her voice in her youth at the Tensta Gospel Choir, Sabina’s soulful vocals are the crowning sultry embellishment to the track. Now leaning toward contemporary pop and R&B, she has positioned herself as one of the country’s most beloved artists, securing over 200 million streams on Spotify. Next to this, the singer has snagged gleaming badges of approval from her fellow peers through collaborations with global household names like Mr. Eazi and Katy Perry.
This track is a female anthem, featuring a powerhouse of female vocals, joining ranks with a mutually celebratory and empowering intention. It showcases an intimate dialogue between the two women, capturing a moment seldom highlighted between female artists in the industry. Often, the space for women to thrive as artists is conditional and temporary, resulting in creators being vetted against each other in the name of natural competition (think to the likes of Brandy vs. Monica, Whitney vs./ Mariah, Nicki vs. Cardi, sadly the list goes on…). Misogyny isn’t exempt from music. Despite the number of female artists working to disband unproductive ideologies against female co-creation and agency, men still hold the keys to the city.
In the words of LUCIIA and Sabina, “Pain’s only seasonal”.
These words were the consummate summation of the song’s message. In true 90’s R&B fashion, the use of soft instrumentation and percussion brought forth an intense focus on vocals and storytelling. Unlike much of the lyricism in modern-day music, the Swedish pair took an alternate route, broadcasting a higher frequency of positivity and mutual support.
LUCIIA and Sabina Ddumba are taking a bold step in the right direction. Keep an eye out for the two to see what ‘HAPPENS’.
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