The Lael Project is proud to announce the release of ‘It’s About Soul’, the seventh posthumous single from the late New York soul/pop singer-songwriter Lael Summer, arriving July 10th 2026.
Originally released in 2013 to immediate acclaim, and now re-worked by longtime collaborators Tomás Doncker and James Dellatacoma, the track breathes new life into one of Lael’s most beloved recordings. Her vocals, extracted from a live performance at New York City’s The Blue Note, are complimented by instrumentation from the renowned The Specials Horns and the late, legendary Amp Fiddler. More than a decade on, ‘It’s About Soul’ remains a powerful reflection of Lael’s spirit – fearless, vulnerable, and unapologetically herself.
Lael’s life was tragically cut short when she died by suicide in 2017 aged just 24, yet her voice continues to inspire and connect with listeners around the world. One of Lael’s guiding beliefs was simple yet profound: “If I can help just one person through my music, then I’ve done my job.” That mission lives on through The Lael Project, the nonprofit founded by her mother, artist and activist Marla Mase, which honours Lael’s life by using her music as a vehicle for mental health advocacy, suicide prevention initiatives, healing, and hope.
‘It’s About Soul’ is a formidable female empowerment anthem and captures everything that made Lael such a compelling artist: vulnerability, wit, strength, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. The re-release is both a celebration of Lael’s artistry and an invitation to continue the conversations she cared so deeply about. Through her music, The Lael Project hopes to encourage openness around mental health, remind people that support is available, and honour the belief that guided Lael throughout her life: that helping even one person can make all the difference.
Speaking on the song, Marla Mase says, “‘It’s About Soul’ was another one of Lael’s girl empowerment anthems; She wanted to empower girls, reminding them that their power lies in who they are, their spirit, their soul and not in how they look, even though Lael very much cared about how she looked. She was glam, she struggled with an eating disorder, and she truly loved clothes, make-up and fashion. Both can be true. Her sassy bad-assness was as prominent as her vulnerability and sensitivity. This song showcases that sassy side of her and her sense of humor as well. It’s funky as fuck.”
Producer Tomás Doncker adds: “As great a songwriter and recording artist as Lael was, we wanted to showcase the power and intensity of her voice in a live concert setting. With the help of modern technology, the bulk of her vocal performance on ‘It’s About Soul’ is culled from her show with the True Groove All-Stars at The Blue Note in New York City. The Specials Horns, as well as the late great P-Funk keyboard legend Amp Fiddler were brought in to underscore and support her sassy female empowerment anthem.”
MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE:
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States among those aged 12-18, and the leading cause of death in the UK in men under 50. For The Lael Project, these statistics underscore the importance of awareness, education, and compassion. Hoping to help change these statistics, ‘Its About Soul’ arrives amid growing recognition of The Lael Project’s advocacy work.
Over the past year, the organisation has collaborated with leading mental health nonprofits including To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) , and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), while also building relationships with mental health organisations in the United Kingdom.
In November 2025, Marla served as keynote speaker at AFSP’s Suicide Survivor Day, where Lael’s song ‘Make You Whole’ closed the event as survivors honoured their loved ones.
For Mental Health Awareness Month this year, The Lael Project launched its Share A Song campaign on social media, highlighting music’s power to heal, uplift, and articulate emotions many struggle to express.
Marla is also expanding the project’s educational outreach through volunteer work with NAMI, bringing mental health awareness programming into schools throughout America. The initiative focuses on helping young people recognise signs of emotional distress, understand the importance of mental health care, for themselves and their loved ones, and challenge the stigma that too often prevents people from seeking support.
This autumn, The Lael Project will launch AS IS, an intergenerational creative workshop for women aged 18 and over that was successfully piloted in New York City earlier this year. Born from The Lael Project’s mission to ‘help just one person’, AS IS invites participants to show up exactly as they are and discover what their inner selves need to express. Through writing, movement, music, mythology and dream work, participants are guided to reconnect with forgotten, hidden and emerging parts of themselves. Launching later this year, AS IS embodies the very message at the heart of Lael’s music: It’s About Soul.
It’s About Soul is set for release July 10th 2026 and will be available on all major streaming platforms.