Jamila Woods has launched a new era. The Chicago-based singer has returned with “Boundaries,” a new song produced by BLVK (J. Cole, Tank and the Bangas, JoJo).
“‘Boundaries’ is a song about the negotiation between private and shared space in a new relationship, the risk involved in letting someone get close enough to see your rough edges,” Woods explains.
She adds, “I think a lot about the Prentice Hemphill quote, ‘Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.’ The song is about learning the difference between erecting boundaries out of fear versus out of love.”
“Boundaries” marks Woods’ first solo offering in two years. She previously shared “Sula,” a song she penned, as a paperback and hardcover version in honor of late author Toni Morrison, who wrote a novel in 1973 of the same title.
“This song is a mantra to allow myself space to experience my gender, love, intimacy, and sexuality on my own terms,” Woods said at the time of the song’s release.
Woods released a music video for “Sula (Paperback)” and performed it on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Since then, Woods has collaborated with many artists, including Peter CottonTale, Mykki Blanco, oddCouple and Supa Bwe, to name a few. She also remade Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” for Join the Ritual, a covers compilation.
Woods’ last album, LEGACY! LEGACY!, was released in May 2019. Some of the album’s shared songs include “EARTHA” and “GIOVANNI.”
The album ranked No. 4 on Rated R&B’s 30 Best R&B Albums of 2019 list.
Rated R&B’s Danielle Brissett wrote, “Weaving aspects of Blackness and womanhood, LEGACY! LEGACY! embarks on an elegantly expressive journey of finding and accepting yourself in a world where the cards aren’t always in your favor.”
Stream “Boundaries” by Jamila Woods below.