Synonym is a studio album by American musician Meshell Ndegeocello, released on October 2, 2026, by Blue Note Records. It features guest appearances from Chaka Khan, Cat Power, Brandi Carlile, Anohni and others.
The first single, a cover of Aretha Franklin and George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", was released on July 15, 2026. "Don't You Want Me", originally by the Human League, was released on August 7, 2026. A cover of Bob Dylan's "With God on Our Side" featuring Bill Callahan and Chris Thile, was released on September 18, 2026.
Track listing "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" – 4:46 "Don’t You Want Me" – 4:36 "Don’t Stop the Music" – 4:39 "Islands in the Stream" – 4:34 "It Ain’t Me Babe" – 4:20 "Always on Time" – 4:01 "Be Real Black for Me" – 3:50 "Don’t Look Any Further" – 4:03 "The Closer I Get to You" – 3:40 "Golden Ring" – 3:19 "I Got You Babe" – 3:20 "Here We Come (Here He Comes)" – 3:45 "Guilty" – 4:28 "Hunger Strike" – 3:03 "With God on Our Side" – 5:38
Personnel Meshell Ndegeocello – vocals, bass, backing vocals Chris Bruce – guitars, bass, programming Deantoni Parks – drums, live drum programming Abe Rounds – drums, percussion, bass, guitar, piano, tabla, programming Cynthia Erivo – vocals Jake Sherman – piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, keyboards, vibraphone, synth bass Josh Johnson – saxophone, horns David Gamson – sound design, keyboards, guitar, programming Jebin Bruni – keyboards, Mellotron, synthesizer, bells, piano, synth bass Cat Power – vocals Nick Hakim – vocals, effects Robert Glasper – vocals, vocoder, piano Ella Feingold – guitar Nayanna Holley – backing vocals Hanna Benn – backing vocals Chaka Khan – vocals Benny Bock – synthesizer, electric piano, marxophone Béla Fleck – banjo Alan Hampton – bass Madison Cunningham – vocals, piano, guitar Laura Lee – vocals, bass Larry Goldings – electric piano, keyboards, Mellotron Wendy Melvoin – guitar Gabe Noel – bass, cello, bass harmonica Lizz Wright – vocals Emily King – vocals Lianne La Havas – vocals, guitar Elena Pinderhughes – flute Destin Conrad – vocals Moses Sumney – vocals Brandi Carlile – vocals, backing vocals Anohni – vocals Levon Henry – horns Oliver Leiber – guitar Evann McIntosh – vocals Ink – vocals Doyle Bramhall II – guitar Willow – vocals, drums Bill Callahan – vocals, guitar Chris Thile – vocals, tambourine
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