Sad represents a total reinvention for Ikonika, the producer, songwriter and singer also known as Sara Chen. Putting their own vocals at the forefront of their music for the first time, Chen becomes a charismatic and haunting pop presence. Sometimes, they play the role of warm R&B vocalist (Listen to Your Heart); at other times, such as on the nervy, hypnotic Whatchureallywant, they’re seductive and steely, commanding the dancefloor over production that draws equally from bass music and South African amapiano.
Ikonika has long been an established presence in underground electronic music. They have been signed to the Hyperdub label for nearly 20 years; muscular, sprightly releases such as 2020’s Your Body and 2018’s The Library Album have contributed to their reputation as a brash, warm-spirited producer. But Sad has the feel of a debut, centring sounds from northern and southern Africa (Chen is part-Egyptian) on tracks like Sense Seeker and Gone. Their lyrics draw on ideas of safety and care, pushing their persona past “party starter” and into more complex territory.
Chen tends to repeat lyrics like mantras: “Feel it now, feel your love” on Sense Seeker; “Is it illogical? Is it impossible?” on Take Control. It makes listening to Sad feels a little like reading someone’s journal, full of earnest middle-of-the-night thoughts and raw desire. Its mission statement arrives early on: “Are you even listening? Listen to your heart.” It announces Ikonika’s entry into the brave new world of pop without sacrificing the complexity that made their name.
