Naeem Enlists Justin Vernon and Swamp Dogg for "Simulation"

Baltimore-born and Los Angeles-based artist Naeem has tagged Swamp Dogg and Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon for “Simulation,” the lead single off his upcoming debut album Startisha.

Inspired by books such as Lewis Hyde’s Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art, “Simulation” is a response to the societal norms that have attempted to lower Naeem’s worth. “I wrote this song to remind myself, and hopefully everyone that hears it, that nothing is real, and our greatest defense in this life is our own creativity, and finding great faith in whatever sigils and icons we choose to guide us,” he said in a statement.

Startisha is set to introduce Naeem as a restlessly creative artist who exemplifies artistic, daring and emotional intelligence. The album process began four years ago and have seen work in Philadelphia, New York and Vernon’s home studio in Minneapolis. Naeem’s challenge to himself was to “write songs from a personal place, and to write love songs – both things I’ve never done before,” and this created a project that explores self-care and attention, the love for his boyfriend and personal memories of growing up in Baltimore.

Watch Naeem’s “Simulation” music video above. Startisha drops June 12.

Elsewhere in music, Freddie Gibbs joined Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes for their new track “Nightrider.”