Dowdelin’s new single “Sonmèy,” from their album Tchenbé! (Underdog Records), is an imaginative zouk track sung in Creole that imagines parallel worlds as dreamlike refuges. The lyrics reflect on living between dual realities, while the music fuses Caribbean rhythms with inventive electro-pop sonorities, a signature of Dowdelin’s fresh blend of tradition and forward-looking approach.

With Tchenbé!, the Lyon-based quartet marks a new chapter, leaning into a more organic, emotional sound. The album dives deep into themes like depression, resilience, and life’s changing tides, weaving Afro-Caribbean grooves with touches of jazz, electronic textures, and soulful percussion.

Moving away from their earlier electronic-heavy style, producer David Kiledjian incorporates live instruments — guitars, keys, flute, and saxophone — giving the record a richer, warmer feel. The result is a vibrant mix of Creole vocals, gwo-ka, biguine, jazz, and electronic elements that push genre boundaries.

Dowdelin, self-described as “Creole Afro-Futurists,” brings together roots from Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Armenia. The lineup features Kiledjian, vocalist Olivya Victorin, drummer/saxophonist Raphaël Philibert, and drummer Greg Boudras.

Tchenbé! and the single “Sonmèy” are available now on the band’s Bandcamp page