Drawing us in with cerebral percussion and ethereal vocals, BITEZ opens Black Silk On Purple Bruises with poetic prowess and a sensual alternative energy. Her vocals are sublime and her lyricism is intelligent, culturally referential and laced with not only metaphorical depth, but also deep lived experience expressed through eye-opening constructs.
There’s a 90s sensibility that manifests with nods to trip-hop of Massive Attack and Portishead, but at the same time, the song holds a cinematic allure perfect for a sync placement in a TV show like The Day of the Jackal, Industry, I May Destroy You, Killing Eve, Top Boy, Black Mirror, or the new Carrie series on Amazon Prime.
The hazy vibes create an immersive sonic environment that feels seductive and psychedelic. We love the way BITEZ balances the intimacy of a late-night confession with wider atmospheric scope and nods to the 70s drug culture. We learn that beneath the track’s dreamy surface lies a much more complicated narrative about inheritance, visibility, and the cost of being recognised.
Black Silk On Purple Bruises was released during UK Black History Month, and pays tribute to Black women and boundary-breaking artists whose innovations have too often come with personal sacrifices. Tina Bell, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Poly Styrene all form part of the lineage.
The title itself is a compelling metaphor. Silk feels luxurious and refined, whilst the idea of purple bruises points towards the injuries concealed beneath. BITEZ extends this into a valid critique of the music industry. She poignantly frames its power dynamics through the language of romance. Contracts become commitments, recognition arrives with conditions. It’s genius.
For some context, Princess Arinola Adegbite, professionally known as BITEZ, is a Manchester-based, British Jamaican-born Nigerian singer, rapper, and lyricist whose genre-fluid sound brings together trip-hop, jazz-inflected pop, hip-hop, and alternative R&B. A multi-award-winning artist and poet, she draws on an eclectic palette of influences, including Nina Simone, Gorillaz, Erykah Badu, FKA twigs, Sade, and André 3000. Her recognition includes the Manchester Young Creative of the Year award at the 2021 Manchester Culture Awards, alongside support from organisations including Factory International, MOBO Help Musicians, and Youth Music.
Needless to say, we are totally in awe, and have added Black Silk On Purple Bruises to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of BITEZ, including 0161, Put Me in a Trance, and Performative Love.