Lalah Hathaway is perhaps one of the most respected vocalists in the industry thanks to her otherworldly talent and natural musicality that makes her such a versatile artist. That’s probably why she’s so in demand as a collaborator. However, we haven’t heard her on the solo tip with her own original material since she released her album honestly back in 2017 (though she did follow that up with a deluxe edition the following year). She changes that with the release of her latest single “The Energy.”
“The Energy” is co-written by Lalah, Ariza and KOLE and draws from Lalah’s own life experiences of growing up in Chicago. Over a funky guitar riff and heavy drums, she relates some of them in the opening verse. “Somebody cooking greens in the kitchen / Somebody in the backyard singing / Everybody on the home team winning / That’s the feeling,” she sings. “Coming home from church on Sunday / Catch the L, double dutch at the lakefront / Someone told me that the best day’s coming / That’s the feeling in my mind.”
There’s also a bit of a romantic bend to the song, as well, with the songstress describing something that’s “Natural easy / Like a summer evening” made even better by the energy being exchanged.
Lalah Hathaway rarely, if ever, misses, and “The Energy” is a prime example of why she’s so beloved. Check out her latest when you press play and make sure to catch her at the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley 2023 this July.
