Black Butterfly by Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Black Butterfly, is the title track from Brooklyn Funk Essentials' upcoming eighth studio album.

The song that would become "Black Butterfly" started out as the soundtrack of a dream. In the dream, I was trying to find my way in an unknown and barren landscape. I woke up, and the song was still playing in my head. I got up and recorded the idea onto my phone so as not to forget it. I even had most of the lyrics then and there. I was reading Octavia Butler at the time, so perhaps the dream was inspired by that. It was a ballad - not a funky song, but I thought I would see what BFE could do with it, since we were about to start recording a new album. I tried to stay true to the arrangement in the dream with vibraphone, brushes, and bells. We nailed it in one take. Alison and Ebba sang the lyrics together, and then we added Jéssica too. Like one universal girl carrying the future seed. A few weeks later I came upon this quote from Arundhati Roy, and I knew we were on the same page: “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. Maybe many of us won’t be here to greet her, but on a quiet day, if I listen very carefully, I can hear her breathing." says Lati Kronlund

Kronlund and Limerick have been enjoying the recent renewed interest in "Where Love Lives." Kronlund wrote and produced it for Limerick in 1990; it was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales, and became a club classic and was featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV Ad. Arthur Baker heard the original in a club in 1991, and he contacted Kronlund about working together then they formed Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

"Black Butterfly" was written and produced by bassist Lati Kronlund and features Alison Limerick, Ebba Åsman, and Jessica Pina on vocals.

Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Black Butterfly
Release Date March 2026
Label Dorado Records

Tracklist
1. Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Black Butterfly