You are currently viewing Nia Wyn teams up with The Harlem Gospel Travelers in honour of the trans and queer community for ‘It’s My Business’
Photo credit: Wunmi Onibudo

Nia Wyn teams up with The Harlem Gospel Travelers in honour of the trans and queer community for ‘It’s My Business’

Following the announcement of her debut album A Pleasure To Have In Class, Welsh soul artist and producer Nia Wyn unveils the final single ‘It’s My Business’ featuring The Harlem Gospel Travelers. Produced by London-based edbl, ‘It’s My Business’ is a transatlantic soul-gospel-blues collaboration of queer defiance, and a call to everyone to protect and care for queer and trans lives. A retro crackling breakbeat, guitar stabs and distorted piano carries you though a story of a life ended too early and the forces that lurk behind the anti-trans movements. The strikingly powerful chorus is a statement of pride and rebellion with a reverb-drenched gospel call and response (‘it’s my business, and mine alone’ / ‘I’ve got nothing, to be sorry for’. In the second verse, George Marage and Ifedayo Gatling’s back and forth and spine-tingling harmonies address the listener and plead with them to take notice of the lives lost to hatred.

Nia Wyn says she wrote the lyrics in a session with edbl not long after the murder of Brianna Ghey. “As a gay woman, I have always felt a connection and strong solidarity with trans and non-binary people and I worry about the increasing discrimination and hate crime towards our communities. After the murder of Brianna and reading about the vitriol on social media pushed by J.K Rowling and conservative movements, I felt I really needed to write about this. I’ve been a fan of HGT for some time and was thrilled when they were up for collaborating on this, not just because I think they are incredible musicians but also I value their lived experiences and bravery. We’ve ended up performing together and become friends now, which is beautiful.”

On the track, Ifedayo of The Harlem Gospel Travelers said: “To be able to not only sing but lend my own perspective on ‘It’s My Business’ was an honour. This is the first time we have had the opportunity to work with another openly queer artist, coming together from two different countries. To tell the powerful and important story. We as artists have a responsibility to use our gifts and platform to speak to speak to the world. We cannot, and should not ignore the trans lives that have been lost. Who we love is OUR business. When lives are lost, it’s ALL of our business!”

Leave a Reply