Two generations of artists collide beautifully on Black Alliance

In honour of Black History Month, Warner Music Canada paid homage to legendary Black artists and their songs with Black Alliance Vol. 1.

The first instalment of the annual compilation album is also a special tribute to Canadian legend and former lead singer of jacksoul, the late Haydain Neale.

Neale formed the R&B group in 1995 and became a pioneer for Black Canadian artists. Sadly, Neale passed away in 2009 after battling lung cancer. Neale’s cover of “Use Me” by Bill Withers was given a modern revamp and used to kick off the start of the album. The track also serves as a tribute to Bill Withers who Neale was a big fan of.

On the remainder of the six-track project, Warner’s roster of young Black talent take on classics that helped pave the way for their budding careers.

Queen Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y.” is given new life in Charmaine’s cover, Amaal makes a silky-smooth rendition of India.Arie’s “Brown Skin” and Just John puts his spin on Missy Elliott’s “My Struggles.”

For R&B/Pop artist Andye, he says he chose to cover “Man in the Mirror” because of its message of self-reflection and also because the accompanying video reminded him of his roots.

“If you [seen] the official music video, there’s a lot of kids in poverty and that hit because I am from Ethiopia and I did see that,” he says.

Meanwhile, for singer-songwriter Myles Castello, “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke was his song of choice because of how relevant the lyrics remained from one generation to the next. 

“The part that hits home,” Castello says, “is the fact that … it’s called ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ but it’s like we’re still kind of … looking and waiting and fighting for certain things.”

Some of that change he says includes breaking out of the boxes that he says Black music is often put into.

“I think there’s a long way to go in terms of where the culture is and what the culture needs to represent,” Castello says. “For guys, it’s like … everything’s about flashiness. I think that’s what really has to change … now that there is an opportunity. It’s like we can’t be seeing the same thing that we’ve been seeing the last 20 years in music.”

“The part that hits home, is the fact that … it’s called ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ but it’s like we’re still kind of … looking and waiting and fighting for certain things.”

Myles Castello

When it comes to other changes needed in the music business, Andye says he feels Toronto needs more R&B.

“I always talk about this with my friends,” he says. “There’s not enough R&B in Toronto and like no one representing it and I know there’s the Weeknd’s and the Drake’s and they all left, so you know, they kind of come off American now.”

Displays of unity amongst Black musicians is another reason why Castello says Black Alliance is important to the culture.

 “It’s important to show a collective of people who are willing to put something together, work together and share their story in their own way and retell others as well,” Castello said.

When it comes to creating a legacy of their own, Castello says that he hopes to make music that inspires people.

“I feel like whenever I’m inspired is when I want to create the most and when I create the most is when I inspire the most again, and it just cycles over.”

For Andye, he’s found himself inspired by MJ’s unmatched work ethic.

“It makes you work harder than you’re working right now.”

Black Alliance Vol. 1 is available on most streaming platforms and is accompanied by music video performances by each of the five artists.

Photos supplied courtesy of Warner Music Canada