A Music Review by Dawoud Kringle
Artist: Sandra Izsadore
Title: Glass House
Label: SMB Entertainment
Format: digital single
Genre: Afrobeat/Reggae
Singer, songwriter, dancer, former Fela Kuti’s band member, activist, and MFM member Sandra Izsadore has released a new single.
Izsadore was born in Los Angeles and developed a personal ideology from her perception of the ills of society. She studied acting and African dance in Los Angeles. It was during this period that she met Fela Kuti who offered her a position as a singer. This was a pivotal moment in the creation of Afrobeat. Kuti left America and five months later sent for Izsadore to come to Nigeria and work with his band. She stayed in Nigeria, working with Kuti for seven months before returning to the US. Izsadore has also published a book titled Fela and Me. It is an autobiographical account of her time with the legendary musician and activist.
Glass House‘s central theme revolves around the adage, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Using this metaphor, Izsadore, along with RahabTheLyricist and UBKing, explores themes of vulnerability, accountability, and the need for empathy in a world where judgment is often cast too quickly. It is a reflection on the fragility of life, the consequences of their actions, and the importance of integrity and self-awareness.
A powerful figure on the drums and a decisive G# minor chord opens the song. This settles into a groove that skillfully straddles the line between Afrobeat and dark, almost spooky reggae. The instrumental arrangement harkens to the mood of the conscious and spiritual music of Nigeria and Jamaica while bringing its own character to the canon. Izsadre’s vocals are not only well executed, they convey the message of the song with sincerity and immediacy that is almost frightening. UBKing’s vocals blend very well with Izsadore.
It should be pointed out that the music video of the song makes skillful and imaginative use of AI generated imagery. This is combined with real images of the artists and other imagery related to the song’s theme. The overall production of the video is excellent.
As the song progresses, the target of the song’s dire message seems to transmit from personal to political ethics. It may be that Izsadore sought to erase the boundary between them, and touch the hearts of those who “throw stones.” This may very well be the greatest strength of this song. Izsadore uses her mastery of powerful music to deliver an even more powerful message that transcends all human barriers. The world needs this; it always has, and always will.
