Sade Adu recently broke her musical silence with the release of “Young Lion,” a song dedicated to her trans son Izaak Adu. She contributed the moving track to Red Hot Organization’s new compilation TRAИƧA, and she now delivers an equally touching visual. The iconic yet notoriously private frontwoman of the band Sade offers a rare glimpse of her family life behind the scenes and far from the stage in the piece.
Directed by Ms. Adu’s longtime collaborator Sophie Muller, the visual features never-before-seen home movies from the superstar’s personal collection. The footage consists of grainy videos of Sade and her only child from infancy onward sharing precious moments. Interspersed are clips of the singer in current day driving along a country road. While the melancholy “Young Lion” plays, we witness Sade’s child grow, and at the video’s end, he’s revealed to be right by her side riding in the passenger seat, together on this journey.
Izaak shared a heartfelt message to his mother following the video’s release. “Mumma, thank you for doing this... It is so important to me, and I believe it will be to many others, too. Thank you for always giving me the freedom to be ME and fiercely loving me through it all. I couldn’t do it without you. You’re incredible. I Love you more than words can say,” he wrote on Instagram.
Press play below to see Sade like we’ve never seen her before in the “Young Lion” visual. The searing number is among 46 songs featured on TRAИƧA, a bold concept project described as “a spiritual journey celebrating trans people.” Just released on Friday, November 22nd, the collection features over 100 artists and is divided into eight “chapters.” Sade Adu’s “Young Lion” is fittingly featured in Chapter VII entitled “Liberation.”
