DESIREE and Emmanuel Jal Unite for Afro House Anthem ‘Macho’
DESIREE has officially teamed up with the acclaimed South Sudanese-Canadian vocalist Emmanuel Jal for her latest single, ‘Macho.’ Released through the prestigious Ninja Tune imprint, the track serves as a masterclass in cross-cultural collaboration, seamlessly blending DESIREE’s signature electronic music production with Jal’s evocative, multilingual vocal performance.
The track is a linguistic journey, featuring lyrics in Kiswahili, Nuer, Arabic, and English. This diversity reflects the complex personal history of Emmanuel Jal, whose upbringing spans South Sudan, Kenya, England, and Canada. “This song brings together all my languages,” Jal explained. “At its heart, it’s a love song inspired by the way we used to express love in the village through call and response—how we would traditionally woo women. I wanted to bring that feeling into a modern Afro house sound.”
DESIREE, who has been making significant waves in the global dance scene, noted that the track was a product of shared experiences and global movement. “This song was born between journeys, stages, and conversations that brought different worlds together,” she shared via social media. “Emmanuel Jal and I first performed it together in London and Nairobi, and it’s been special to watch people connect with it.”
The release of ‘Macho’ arrives on the heels of a busy touring schedule for DESIREE, including standout performances at London’s GALA festival and the iconic Circoloco in Ibiza. The producer continues to build on a strong 2024, which also saw the release of her remix of Nina Simone’s classic ‘Four Women’.
