American singer, songwriter and record producer Alicia Keys has written a song off inspiration from Queen of Katwe, a movie about Uganda Chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi.
When you are so inspired by a movie that you write a song about it ?? #QueenOfKatwe#BackToLifepic.twitter.com/TLwEeWBR19
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) September 1, 2016
The song “Back to Life” gets Keys tossing out confessional lyrics through melismatic vocal swoops as the cathartic track morphs from a minimalist piano ballad to an uptempo electro-pop jam.
See @Aliciakeys talk about her new song “Back to Life” featured in the film #QueenofKatwe. In theaters September 30! pic.twitter.com/2BPFJ70eoV
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) September 1, 2016
“I wanna be somebody/ I wanna go somewhere,” Keys – who has just signed as coach for Season 11 of The Voice, which premieres September 19th on NBC belts.
The track, which will feature in the movie as a sound track is expected to be part of her upcoming sixth LP, which follows 2012’s Girl on Fire.
Watch @AliciaKeys perform her new single “Back to Life” from the upcoming film #QueenofKatwe on the @TODAYshow! pic.twitter.com/eAcYEcO9FT
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) September 6, 2016
Queen of Katwe, hitting theaters September 30th, follows the life of Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a 10-year-old in the impoverished Ugandan slum of Katwe, who goes from selling corn in the streets to becoming an international chess champion with the help of her coach (Oyelowo).
See a scene from Phiona’s first chess match in this exclusive #QueenofKatwe clip now on @EW! https://t.co/UPB9TWlPyspic.twitter.com/KISBFJIoKp
— Queen of Katwe (@QueenOfKatwe) September 2, 2016
It also stars Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) who plays Phiona’s mother.
Determination. Hard work. Belief.#MeetPhiona #QueenofKatwe pic.twitter.com/kyd2n5Hvqr
— Queen of Katwe (@QueenOfKatwe) August 24, 2016
Queen of Katwe is set for its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, ahead of its release in the U.S. on Sept. 23.