Christine and the Queens and Thee Diane come together on new song, "Ah Ya"

"Ah Ya" first performed live by Christine and the Queens, the moniker of French singer-songwriter Rahim Redcar, at multi-disciplinary festival Because Beaubourg back in October. It's the latest creative endeavour to arise from the pair, who are longtime collaborators and friends, with Thee Diane having appeared on the cover art of Christine and the Queens’ 2022 album Redcar les adorables étoiles. Today, they share a recorded version of the track.

Speaking about the collaboration, Rahim says:

“From our friendship, the legacy is music. We’ve been singing together for several years - now, our voices answer each other, melt into one. In the writing, too, things come to us harmoniously, in one breath - where the music goes, we go without thinking. The melody then unfolds to bring us its sweet, sweet relief. Find a sister, find a brother. In the night of the world, conversations, late at night; the pact is sealed. We built our sound, we protect our sound. 'Ah Ya' is the collaboration of two rebels, and I say this without flaunting, since we still dare to love in the night of a world so fragile. Since we dream ourselves free, total emancipation of our fortresses. 'The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.' – James Baldwin”

Thee Diane adds: “This song is an invitation to tune into a higher frequency. It’s a freer, almost instinctive format. A way to reconnect with oneself, to follow our heart and let the body speak as much as the voice. To listen to your heart and create from a truer place. We wanted to break free, following the example of other artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Kool & The Gang, Kate Bush… who created long, cinematic musical landscapes where emotion takes precedence over structure. This is the first track of a beautiful artistic collaboration and a deep friendship between us.”