In celebration of the upcoming release of the newly reimagined motion picture The Color Purple, a host of artists have come together to contribute new music to the movies soundtrack.
THE COLOR PURPLE (MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY) features beloved songs from director Blitz Bazawule’s bold new film, in addition to original material inspired by the “rich tapestry” of the film’s narratives.
The album – executive produced by Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and gamma. co-founder and CEO Larry Jackson – will be available from Friday, December 15th 2023 via Warner Bros. Pictures, WaterTower Music, and gamma.
New material on the album comes courtesy of Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole, Jorja Smith, Coco Jones, Ciara, Mary Mary; collaborations include a breathtaking duet by Usher and H.E.R., plus a special remix by Missy Elliott.
The films much anticipated sweeping, end credit song, written and produced by the legendary hitmaker The-Dream, is performed by Fantasia.
In a press release announcing the project, the team behind the soundtrack say: “‘The Color Purple’s’ preeminent onscreen ensemble delivers stunning performances, creating an emotional journey through Fantasia Barrino’s soulful melodies, Taraji P. Henson’s emotive depth, Colman Domingo’s captivating energy, Danielle Brooks’ powerful resonance, H.E.R’s contemporary artistry, and Halle Bailey’s radiant vocals.”
“New songs from the film combined with source material from Grammy Award-winning songwriters of The Color Purple musical, Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, promises an auditory experience that’s both fresh and deeply nostalgic.”
The first offering from the project ‘Lifeline’ is performed by GRAMMY Award winning megastar Alicia Keys.
Co-produced by the ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ singer along with Tricky Stewart (Beyoncé, Rihanna), Marshmello (Selena Gomez, Juice Wrld) and TMS (Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi), the beautifully transcendent track serves as Keys’ heartfelt ode to the “unequivocal comfort emanating from friends, family and community that holds us up as we face life’s challenging moments”.
Listen to ‘Lifeline’ below:
“I am so immensely proud that the filmmakers and Warner Bros. Pictures chose us to collaborate on a hugely cultural album that musically brings to life this reimagined classic,” Larry Jackson says via a press release. “‘The Color Purple’, in its many iterations, is unquestionably hallowed ground in black culture. Just as film director Blitz Bazawule has done a spectacular job in taking the film to another level artistically, we, too, wanted to bring an equally adventurous, creative take to this expanded soundtrack.”
“Complementing the fabulously infectious musical moments of the new film, we wanted to further celebrate the stories of the film’s protagonists with additional current, contemporary songs that thematically spoke to their relatable experiences and struggles. And deeply influenced by the great, iconic R&B/pop soundtracks of the 1990s, I’ve always wanted to make an ‘Inspired By’ soundtrack that had cultural legends and new artists of a genre come together for a piece of art that defines a moment in time.”
“I feel great pride in what the team at gamma. has creatively achieved with ‘The Color Purple (Music From And Inspired By)’ and I hope everyone else enjoys what I feel is the BEST R&B soundtrack since some of the most iconic ones of the ‘90s!”
The Color Purple will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, and is set to open internationally from January 18th 2024. The movies original score, composed by Kris Bowers, will be released on December 25th 2023.