Following the release of their viral single “My Drummer’s Girlfriend,” ALT BLK ERA—sister duo Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam—is back with their new single “Straight To Heart.” The track is set to appear on the band’s 10-track debut album, Rave Immortal. It arrives on January 10, 2025, via Earache Records. Secure your pre-orders here.
Rave Immortal is exceptionally personal for Nyrobi who details “my hidden disability that is a result of chronic illness that took hold during my teens and left me bed-ridden for years. I take the listener through the shadows and share the pain of abandonment I felt, and the solace that I found in my younger sister’s unwavering support.”
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The artist continues, “This part of the album is so painful for me and at the same time it feels beautiful because it shows my sister by my side, every step of the way; through each emotion and every story. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to share this part of me without Chaya and the track ‘Come On Outside’ is a beautiful reflection of her.”
Nyrobi says of the forthcoming ALT BLK ERA LP, “The album then captures the defiant energy that grew within us, as I became more able. The songs show us crashing through the imposed barriers and boldly claiming spaces that we were once excluded from. As the songs transition into a dreamscape, they delve into the exploration of relationships; the clash of personalities when fitting into a new friendship group and the dangerous mind of an infatuated person who is scarred by illness and years of isolation. The rebellion then builds as we begin to host wild celebrations, fiercely defending our joy after so many years of imposed restriction.”
Finally, she says, “The final tracks turn the tide, transforming our pursuit of freedom into an exhilarating hunt, where those who once stifled our spirit are drawn into our eternal dance of liberation, freeing them from all worldly constraints.”
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Chaya adds, “[T]his album starts as a deeply personal story of the physical and emotional pain that my sister went through when she first became ill. I was about twelve at that time. It was during the pandemic so it was a time of worry and isolation for me also but as Nyrobi slowly became more able to communicate, we spent every minute that she was awake together.”
Additionally, the artist notes, “I’ll ride-or-die for my big sis, so when it’s time to be defiant or to be rebellious, or when it’s time to scream, I’m right there too. This is what the album is about for me[,] our bond, that also respects who we are as individuals.”