BINA. releases Zombies

BINA.’s new single Zombies opens with a kind of push-pull: grungy, a little jagged, but still undeniably pop. There’s something in it that recalls Amaarae’s slippery refusal to sit still. 

South London’s BINA. (and, no, not Congolese, but of Nigerian descent—despite the name prompting frequent linguistic projections) sits in that “alternative” category that usually means very little. Here it actually feels earned. The references are there, she’s also diverting away from all of them to become entirely into her own realm: a bit of Tame Impala’s haziness, some of BadBadNotGood’s texture, and vocal coolness from Solange or Doechii—artists who are great at making music, but also atmosphere. The premise of the song is simple: we know it’s all fake, but we keep doing it anyway: we’re talking about work, spending, the low-level theatre of existing under capitalism. Produced by Jonathan Quarmby, the track stretches itself out slowly—layered keys, faint strings, while BINA.’s voice stays warm and steady at the centre.

Zombies lands at a moment where things are clearly moving: a sold-out European mini-tour, dates with Little Simz and Hope Tala. It doesn’t feel like a big arrival, though. More like something tightening into place.