Sabina Ddumba / Scarred for Life

We listed Sabina Ddumba as an upcoming soul singer over two years ago. Since then, she’s been singing background vocals for numerous artist in the Stockholm music scene such as Seinabo Sey, Elias Sahlin, and Adam Kanyama. She even appeared on Katy Perry’s hit single “Walking On Air”.

A regular in the excellent Tensta Gospel Choir, we’ve been eagerly waiting to hear this young singer represent her own sound, her own way.

And now she does.

‘Scarred for Life’ is strong yet open, revealing a venerability and undeniable strength. What impresses most about Sabina is how she’s translated what’s inside her into this song – not with an angry rap, but with her vocal soul.

When she says ‘fucked’, it’s from the heart; it’s not to impress or to be more ‘street’, but to clearly convey the pain expressed in this track. Even if censored outside Scandinavia, this track still hits hard.

The aptly shot video, directed by Nikeisha Andersson, also reflects a sense of loneliness and isolation, yet Sabina’s deeply personal revelations give a perhaps comforting voice to many silent ones.

There’s an undeniable fire in Sabina, and an honesty that makes “Scarred for Life” a track that’s incredibly real and much-needed in a time of shallow, bland and repetitive pop music.

Sabina has given a powerful and emotional feeling a voice, and in doing so, joins Seinabo Sey and Mapei in helping define the new generation of music from the soul in Sweden.

An absolutely stunning solo debut.