‘Flamenco’ will appear on Haviah’s new mixtape, ‘Stock Exchange’, set for release this fall, which is the latest full length following her 2019 Polaris Music Prize-winning album, ‘13th Floor’.
Continuing to raise the summer heat off her latest banger, ‘Avocado’ (featuring producer, Grandtheft), Haviah steps to the beat and pulse in this sensual, castanet-inflected track reminiscent of an adventure in a new place, with a sound that embodies the striking, powerful energy of its namesake artform and cultural history.
Produced by Haviah Mighty and long-time collaborator, Taabu (known for his work on ‘13th Floor’ standout, ‘Wishy Washy’), this spicy international collaboration transcends continent and genre. A multiple Latin GRAMMY winner, Mala Rodríguez has held a prolific career for over two decades, collaborating with the likes of Big Freedia, Stylo G, and Juan Magán to being featured on President Barack Obama’s Summer Spotify Playlist in 2015, with her song, ‘Yo Marco El Minuto’, and named as one of NPR’s 200 Greatest Songs by 21st Century Women.
Speaking on the track, Haviah said “With this one, I wanted to try something different! Inspired by the cultural influences behind flamenco, this song allowed me to be a guest in a new genre, Mala Rodríguez really brought this record home – her verse added authenticity, sensuality and pizzazz. She has a great voice and message, and with her Spanish roots, I felt that she spoke to the energy of the song more directly than I evercould. It’s a feel-good song, with the intention of resonating on a dancefloor, with the bass pulsing as heavily as the sweat on one’s brow as they hit their moves. This song is quite literally a vibe!”
In addition to Mala Rodríguez and Haviah’s audio/visual epic, ‘Protest’, alongside UK artist Yizzy, Haviah’s forthcoming ‘Stock Exchange’ mixtape is an international endeavour that will include collaborations with US artists Jalen Santoy (‘Way Too Fast’) and Old Man Saxon (‘Antisocial’), to Toronto artists TOBi (‘Good On My Own Tonight’) and Grandtheft (‘Avocado’), with more to be announced. The title refers to a reckoning Haviah had internally over the last year, connecting with how artists are forced to validate their value based on random data (followers, subscribers) and losing a part of the authentic human-to-human universal experience of art.
On July 26, Haviah’s video for ‘Thirteen’ won the 2021 Prism Prize, a national, juried award established to recognize the artistry of the modern music video in Canada. The visual companion to the lead track from ‘13th Floor’, was illustrated by Toronto artist, Theo Kapodistrias, referencing the Thirteenth Amendment and exposing the roots of systemic racism. It debuted on Canada Day (July 1) last year.
Last month, Haviah made her return to the road and stage, rocking festival stages across Ontario and Quebec. Toronto fans can experience her unparalleled live set with upcoming hometown shows, joining Arkells at Budweiser Stage on August 13, 14 and 15, followed by a set at CityView Drive-In alongside Shad and Skratch Bastid on August 27. Haviah will perform at Riverfest Elora’s Wish You Were Here festival on August 20 before heading to Westward Music Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia on September 12 and flying to the UK for her debut at FOCUS Wales.
Get familiar with Haviah Mighty’s work to date ahead of ‘Stock Exchange’ and watch as she continues to rise in sound and vision on stages across Canada this summer.
‘Flamenco’ is available now via all major platforms.
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