Today, Chaka Khan, the Queen of Funk, has released her first new collection of music in 12 years, Hello Happiness, via Diary Records/Island Records, the new label formed by Major Lazer founder and Grammy-nominated producer Switch and artist/songwriter Sarah Ruba Taylor. The new release—her first since 2007’s Funk This—comes on the heels of this week’s announcement that Chaka Khan will head out on an extensive co-headlining tour with Michael McDonald this summer.
As the album’s announcement press release notes, “Hello Happiness is an album which sets Chaka Khan’s timeless vocal to an empowering collection of songs with cutting-edge production. With an eye on the future and a respect for the past, Chaka Khan has delivered an album with the contemporary edge to entice newcomers to her world class talent and the quality to excite long-term fans.”
Jam fans will also notice a familiar name on the album’s songwriting credits. Dopapod keyboardist Eli Winderman is credited as a co-writer on Hello Happiness track “Don’t Cha Know” for the organ, synth, and clavinet work he contributed to the recording.
You can stream Chaka Khan’s new album below:
Chaka Khan – Hello Happiness – Full Album
Khan first collaborated with Switch and Ruba Taylor as a potential featured artist on a different project. Inspired by the power of both her voice and personality, the duo suggested working on an original Chaka Khan album—something which she didn’t have in mind. However, she was soon convinced when she heard some of Switch and Ruba Taylor’s songs, which coincidentally were influenced by Chaka Khan but written for their own project.
Khan released the album’s first single, “Like Sugar”, in June of last year as a limited edition release for 2018’s Record Store Day. The Kim Gherig-directed music video that came along with it received extensive acclaim and nabbed two recognitions at the U.K. Music Video Awards. You can watch the music video for “Like Sugar” below:
Chaka Khan – “Like Sugar”
[Video: Chaka Khan]
For more information about Chaka Khan’s new album and upcoming tour dates, head to her website here.
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