Establishing the mood with a rippling piano performance and textured percussion motifs, Excelsior Black opens We Belong Here with historical, situational prose referencing his lived experience as he shares the lyrics, “In the heart of London, where the old walls hold, I learned how to carry what the city can’t fold, a Black British man with a restless flame, in the European Parliament I signed my name…”

The opus expands with intimate depth and a high emotional quotient as we are taken on an eye-opening, thought-provoking and vulnerable tale of Excelsior Black‘s existence. There is an undeniable authenticity to the storytelling. The production is stripped-back and timeless, allowing the message to really shine through, with every verse feeling like a window into the complexities of navigating identity and ambition.

It is about belonging as a young Black British man operating within European political spaces. We learn that the track was originally conceived as the poem Blackopean Parliament. The track transforms the written word into something much more expansive.

There is also something inherently cinematic about We Belong Here. We could easily imagine it soundtracking a reflective sequence in The Day of the Jackal, Black Mirror, particularly an episode exploring technology, identity and social power. It could also work beautifully in Top Boy, Small Axe or I May Destroy You.

It’s an extremely inspiring piece of artistry and we appreciate the use of technology, whereby poet Kieron Blake has transformed his poetry into music with the human experience remaining at the centre. As Blake puts it, “Kieron Blake writes the stories; Excelsior Black gives them a musical voice.”

Ultimately, We Belong Here serves as a declaration of presence and a statement of confidence. It is a clear refusal to shrink with the message of: I have a right to occupy this space too. 

Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added We Belong Here to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate future multi-platform releases from Kieron Blake and his alter ego, Excelsior Black.

The post Excelsior Black explores identity, belonging and ambition through the lived experience of a young Black British man with debut single, We Belong Here appeared first on KIMU.