Naledi Sunstrum’s captivating 2023 album, BONES, explores the depths of their identity and her continual growth as a human. The Afro house musician, who goes by the stage name OK Naledi, held an album release party March 4 at the National Arts Centre (NAC) to celebrate the release of her new album with the community.
BONES highlights a strengthened version of Sunstrum’s self-understanding that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic forced this sense of stillness and of introversion and self-reflection,” Sunstrum said. “One of the biggest things that came to mind was that I was really missing a huge part of myself in my musical expression … my heritage and my roots.”
This time of personal reflection produced what Sunstrum describes as “a turning on of a tap.”
“I couldn’t stop writing,” they said. “What I wanted to express came out in all the pieces in BONES.”
Originally from Botswana, she said the practice of honouring her roots includes resisting Western pressures to assimilate.
“In terms of pushing away the influence of assimilation in this Western demographic, I think that naturally comes out in terms of talking about who I am, all parts of who I am and being unapologetic about it,” they said.
Infused with ‘90s R&B influence, alluring vocals and strong beats, BONES is a gloriously queer and representative creation.
“The curation of the track, in its entirety, really means a lot in terms of expressing all parts of myself—queerness, my family, my Afro heritage, my Botswana roots and where I grew up,” Sunstrum said. “It’s very intentional.”
The album release party encapsulated the fullness of BONES. An enchanting opening performance by Lucila Al Mar invited attendees to be present in the moment, and absolute artistry followed when OK Naledi took to the stage.
The musician’s sincerity, dancing and banter alongside drummer Kira Montfort built a uniting aura on the NAC’s Fourth Stage. Sunstrum interacted with the audience throughout the night, including leading synchronized snapping and audience train noises.
Leslie Hayward, an audience member at the album launch party, said she was thrilled with the party’s energy.
“I could feel the music and that’s important,” she said. “The stage presence and the movement [were] all so engaging.”
Through the laughter and fluid sways of the crowd, Sunstrum’s presence enamoured party-goers. The night concluded with a standing ovation and encore.
Included in the performance was Sunstrum’s sensual single “INtrlD,” released Feb. 14. The song lyrics convey Sunstrum’s teenage experience meeting a woman in a club in Botswana on New Year’s Eve and dancing together. For the next two years, they’d see each other nearly every weekend, sharing only fleeting glances and dances.
“I have a burning heart of appreciation for that moment because, even though nothing happened, it validated the feeling that what I was experiencing inside is real,” Sunstrum said.
Sunstrum grew up in Botswana at a time when it was illegal to be homosexual.
“I felt very strongly that I had to keep it to myself,” she said.
In 2019, Botswana decriminalized homosexuality. The musician said she is grateful for the activism occurring in the country.
“Lots of queer folks in Botswana [are] putting so much work into making that space more accessible and a more inviting place for the queer community,” they said.
Sunstrum’s experiences also shape the expanding direction of their music.
“[With Afro house] there’s a beat that happens. It’s an intentional, move-your-body kind of music. That was on mainstream radios where I grew up,” they said. “That really is something I’ve wanted to make sure I’m working on infusing.”
The artist is fostering a new space in the Afro house genre as well.
“Growing up… there wasn’t a lot of queer representation, and definitely not a lot of queer, Black, female representation making Afro house music,” they said. “That is something that needs to be more represented in the Afro house music world because it’s just not there yet.”
Launch party attendee Abraar Elmi, who initially met Sunstrum through Girls+ Rock, a community organization that creates equitable opportunities for girls and gender-diverse musicians, said she appreciates Sunstrum’s work.
“She really is emphasizing the African beats in there. I think that makes for great variety,” Elmi said. “I feel like she wants to make the local Ottawa scene really shine.”
Sunstrum said community is at the heart of her music.
“There’s so much necessity to creating music that elevates your communities,” they said. “I want to make sure that what I put out there is speaking about the hard topics, but in an elevated manner so that it can be received and accessible to everyone.”
OK Naledi will open for fellow queer musician Holly Clausius on April 23 at LIVE! on Elgin.
Featured image by Kyra Vellinga.
