Nakhane and Perfume Genius unite on new single ‘Do You Well’.
The South African aesthete returned with bold single ‘Tell Me Your Politik’ recently, an outspoken yet soulful piece of songwriting. For their new release, Nakhane sketches out fresh avenues for exploration alongside another singular voice.
Yep, new single ‘Do You Well’ features Perfume Genius, and the interlock perfectly on a song that consciously eschews expectations. In the words of Nakhane, it’s “a banger” – propulsive songwriting, uplifting in energy and assured in purpose.
Produced by Emre Türkmen with additional production by Nile Rodgers, it dips into vintage disco – think Anna Summer, Gloria Gaynor – while retaining a zesty sense of humour.
Nakahen explains: “Parts of the lyrics were a humorous take on how deceptive club lighting can be. We all look a little different under those strobes lights. I was making fun of myself, and turned that metaphor into something literal and somewhat base.”
Of the collaboration itself he adds: “I always thought singing with him would be a beautiful thing. I liked that it’s a song that was not necessarily what people would expect from us: a sad, trauma-mining ballad. Instead I wanted us to make a banger.”
Out now, Nakhane directed the video alongside Jordan Rossi; a push-and-pull story that moves from mutual infatuation to apprehension, exploring desire and internalised shame between two Black queer men.
Of the video, Nakhane adds…
“I wanted to explore the intersection of violence and sensuality, the dance of courting someone before you actually have sex with them. It was inspired by a lot of gay-themed films, where we normally see characters wrestling with their inner dialogue before they give in to their desires. So I said why not make that wrestling literal? Of course the inspiration for that was how homoerotic wrestling is”.
Tune in now.
