On August 27, 2024, The Red Hot Organization released a teaser for their highly anticipated album, TRANSA. Featuring a lineup of over 100 artists, including Sade Adu, Sam Smith, Hunter Schafer, André 3000, Faye Webster, Moses Sumney, and Julien Baker, the announcement quickly generated excitement beyond just the music community. This extensive compilation, spanning three and a half hours, promises to be a landmark project in both scale and impact.
Launched in 2021, TRANSA was conceived by Red Hot’s Dust Reid and artist/advocate Massima Bell following the death of music producer and trans icon Sophie. The album is a tribute to Sophie’s pioneering work and a continuation of her legacy, representing an effort to celebrate diversity and foster inclusivity through music.
The Red Hot Organization, founded in 1990 by Leigh Blake, John Carlin, and Cole Porter, originally emerged in response to the AIDS crisis. Its mission was to use the power of music and celebrity to appeal to the masses and raise awareness on issues surrounding access to healthcare and education. Over the years, the organization has expanded its focus to include broader social issues, but has maintained its commitment to fighting AIDS.
In the past 34 years, the Red Hot Organization has produced numerous television programs, videos, and media events, as well as 21 collaborative EPs. These projects have brought together over 500 artists from various genres and backgrounds, raising more than $10 million for AIDS awareness, research, and relief efforts.
Described as a “spiritual journey celebrating trans people,” TRANSA is separated into multiple chapters, including “Womb of the Soul,” “Survival,” “Dark Night,” “Grief,” “Acceptance,” and “Reinvention.” The chapter “Liberation,” features “Young Lion,” by Sade Adu. This marks the artist’s first release since 2010 and is dedicated to her son, Izaak Theo Adu, who came out as transgender in 2016. Izaak has spoken openly about his mother’s support during his transition, making this song a poignant tribute to their relationship and the significance of allyship.
As TRANSA prepares for its release, it’s poised to make a significant mark on both the music industry and a broader cultural landscape. The album strives not only to honor Sophie’s legacy, but to highlight ongoing struggles and triumphs in queer communities, furthering Red Hot’s mission of amplifying marginalized voices and leveraging music for positive change.
