Ardalan is back on Dirtybird with MARIEME on ‘I AM’

Ardalan is back on Dirtybird today, March 20, with ‘I AM’, a sharp new cut that lands right in the middle of the label’s Flight Week run.

We’re premiering it first, and it does not hang about. ‘I AM’ is built on a propulsive groove, all clipped percussion, tribal-leaning drums and that tight, rolling pull that keeps things locked from the first bar. Ardalan knows exactly how to work a rhythm, and here he gives Marieme plenty of room to take the record somewhere properly commanding.

Her vocal is the thing that bites. Snappy, direct and full of attitude, Marieme brings a femme-forward edge that cuts clean through the drums and gives the track its backbone. It feels stripped for purpose, but still full of movement, the kind of record that lands just as well in a dark room as it does on a sun-hit rooftop.

Ardalan’s history with Dirtybird goes back years, from BBQ attendee to one of the label’s regular hitters. Since debuting in 2010 with ‘Mr. Spock’ alongside Justin Martin, he’s stayed close to the crew through standout releases like Thunderdad, Escapade with Walker & Royce, and his debut album Mr. Good. After last year’s ‘Drip (Sweat)’ and Dirtybird Campout x Northern Nights appearances, ‘I AM’ marks his second Flight Week release after ‘Spiralling’.

Marieme is no stranger here either. The Senegalese-American singer and songwriter has been carving out her own lane with bold, unmistakable vocals, and past links with Bedouin and Spencer Brown made her a strong fit for the Flight Week camp. Following ‘Stuck To The Floor’ with n808, this is her second appearance in the series, and she sounds right at home.

This one is built for sweaty moments and serious faces at the front.

Listen to Ardalan and Marieme’s ‘I AM’ below, and grab it via Dirtybird now.