“This is the beginning of a reclamation process, a healing journey, and a spiritual discovery around who I am and continue to become as a Haitian-American.”
Named after the artist’s maternal grandmother, Vertulie is a deeply personal work—a clear window into Lalin St. Juste’s being as well as her rich, multifaceted roots. The first of a two-part series, the EP opens with a French recitation of Psalms 91, a prayer about protection, by Lalin’s mother, before transitioning into a Haitian Vodou song. The second track (“Roll Call”) descends into a dark, buzzing downtempo electronic piece laden with reverberating vocals, before leading into the second half of the album, featuring straight-ahead guitar and voice arrangements. The EP was released by 7000COILS, a label and art house founded by Lalin with Dan X (KKINGBOO) committed to elevating the queer voices of the African and Caribbean diaspora.
