Ultra Naté, best-known for 90s banger Free, calls for unity between Black trans and cis women on new track
Ultra Naté pictured in Paris on November 13, 1997. (Charriau/ Gamma-Rapho/Getty)
Clubhouse singer Ultra Naté has come out swinging for trans rights with a new electro-pop anthem that doubles as a rallying cry for trans people of colour.
The American singer, songwriter, record producer and DJ is best known for her dance crossover track “Free”, which shot to the top of the charts in 1997.
She’s channelling that same euphoric energy in her latest banger, “Fierce”, a collaboration with pop artist Mila Jam and Pose star Angelica Ross. The result is an empowering party track that’s a declaration of “unity, support and inclusion” between Black cis and trans women.
“The LGBTQ community has been a part of my music landscape since I began making records 30 years ago,” Ultra Naté told the Huffington Post.
“They’ve always been strong supporters of my music. Nothing happens by coincidence, and [the song] just kind of evolved into this wonderful thing at this important moment in time politically. That’s just my energy, my spirit.”
The song is being released in conjunction with Project Fierce, a fundraising campaign spearheaded by Angelica Ross and Naté’s producer Anthony Preston.
A portion of the proceeds will go to three transgender charities: The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and the GLAAD Transgender Media Program.
“I think [‘Fierce’] is about being unapologetic for what your light is. Standing in your light and being OK with that,” Naté said in an interview with Gayety.
“Accepting your Black girl magic and letting it shine and not being dimmed by anyone else’s judgment. Whether you’re cisgender or trans or whatever.”
She continued: “We, as women, as Black women, we have these amazing qualities that have been appropriated by so many different cultures and so many different people and so many different ways. And it’s always looked down on when it’s us, but when other people do it, then it’s hot and it’s new and it’s bad and it’s edgy and cool.
“And we’re not taking that laying down anymore. We’re being unapologetic about what we do with our hair and what we do with our lashes, or what we do with our big boobs or big booties.”
“Fierce” by Ultra Naté and Angelica Ross featuring Mila Jam is available to stream and download now.
