Naive Melodies by BBE

Naive Melodies is a bold and visionary tribute to the music of Talking Heads, reinterpreted through the lens of Black musical innovation. Curated by Drew McFadden — the creative mind behind BBE’s acclaimed Modern Love (David Bowie tribute album) — this new collection dives deep into the Afro-diasporic rhythms and experimental soul roots that helped shape Talking Heads’ unmistakable New Wave sound. Inspired by artists like Fela Kuti, Parliament, and Al Green — whose influences loomed large in the band’s rhythmic DNA — Naive Melodies shines a light on the Black music traditions that underpinned their artistry.

Far from a conventional tribute, Naive Melodies reframes the band’s catalog through the voices and visions of a new generation of genre-defying artists. These interpretations illuminate the foundational grooves and sonic textures that fueled Talking Heads’ rhythm- forward aesthetic, bringing them full circle with authenticity.

“With Naive Melodies, I wanted to spotlight the deep and often overlooked influence of Black music on the sound of Talking Heads, drawing from the rhythmic foundations of Afro- diasporic traditions, soul, gospel, Latin, and spiritual jazz. This project is a chance to reimagine Talking Heads’ legacy through the lens of the very innovations that helped shape it, bringing those influences to the forefront through the voices of today’s most forward- thinking artists.” — Drew McFadden

The album features a globally minded lineup, including Liv.e, Bilal, Rogê, Miguel Atwood- Ferguson, Aja Monet, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Theo Croker, Kenny Dope, Rosie Lowe, Pachyman, W.I.T.C.H., and more — spanning Afrobeat, jazz, soul, funk, gospel, dub, electronica, orchestral, and Latin styles. It reflects not only the boundary-pushing ethos of Talking Heads, but also the influence of Black music as a cultural force that helped shape it.

This is not just a tribute album — it’s a recontextualization. A cultural conversation. A rhythmic reawakening.

Tracklist

1.	Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Heaven	4:39

2.	Pachyman - Sugar On My Tounge (Dub)	4:19

3.	W.I.T.C.H. - Once In A Lifetime	5:08

4.	Georgia Anne Muldrow - Girlfriend Is Better	4:08

5.	Wu-Lu - Mind	3:08

6.	Astrønne - Psycho Killer	4:06

7.	Kenny Dope & Róisín Murphy - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)	3:48

8.	Liv.e - I Zimbra	4:16

9.	Aja Monet - The Book I Read	4:23

10.	Rosie Lowe - Burning Down The House	4:57

11.	EBBA - Uh-Oh Love Comes To Town	4:56

12.	Rogê - Road to Nowhere	4:30

13.	Vicky Farewell - And She Was	3:53

14.	Florence Adooni - Crosseyed and Painless	4:41

15.	Bilal - Seen And Not Seen	4:17

16.	Theo Croker - Born Under (More) Punches	5:52

17.	Dominique Johnson - Take Me To The River	3:37

18.	Leon Jean-Marie - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)	4:41

19.	Misha Panfilov - The Good Thing (Bandcamp Exclusive Bonus Track)	3:47

20.	Jonah Yano - The Overload (Bandcamp Exclusive Bonus Track)	5:21

Credits

released January 23, 2026

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