Inside Ady Suleiman’s Chasing Listening Party: Love, Honesty, and Communion

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Just two days before the release of Chasing, Ady Suleiman gathered listeners for an  intimate preview of the album — not in a club or formal venue, but in a softly lit loft room that felt closer to a living space than a stage. 

The room itself set the tone. Plants lined the space beneath hanging lights, with windows stretching across the walls as the city looked in. Mirrors ran along one side,  while chess boards, domino sets and Monopoly games sat between small groups, where conversations unfolded quietly before the music began to play. It was a lived-in setting, thoughtful and unforced, reflecting the emotional register of the project being shared. 

People of all ages and walks of life filled the room, including Suleiman’s own parents,  reinforcing the sense that this wasn’t a curated industry moment but a personal one.  Other well-known musicians were also present as supporters, listening alongside everyone else — reinforcing a sense of mutual respect rather than spotlight. 

As the music began, conversations softened, and attention gradually centred toward the front of the room, where Suleiman sat alongside Karim Bitar, who hosted the Q&A. From the opening moments, bodies started to sway, the room responding instinctively to the emotional transparency carried in both lyric and delivery. 

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With the title track 'Chasing', Suleiman described himself as being on a “journey of self-discovery,” explaining that the process taught him to “be more honest with my feelings.”  Leaning further into that vulnerability, 'Ain’t Your Song' confessed the disconnect between believing you’re doing right while your actions suggest otherwise.

Suleiman spoke candidly about “doing some very hurtful things I wasn’t proud of,” questioning how he could hurt someone he claimed to care for. Recounting a past relationship, the song offered no neat resolution, its bluntness leaving the ending open for listeners to interpret on their own terms. 

As the album unfolded, vulnerability emerged as a clear throughline. “It’s important to be honest,” Suleiman shared, noting that his thoughts tend to spiral when he holds things in.

On 'Trouble', he reflected on a period where he felt “more reflective,” while also speaking on how “nerve-wracking” it felt to release music after a long break — particularly reconnecting with listeners through tracks like 'Miracle' and 'Call From Jah'  (featuring Jah Digga). Touching on feelings of social anxiety, he explained: “It’s about coming back outside again… feeling similar things with releasing music again. It just kind of makes  sense.” 

Suleiman spoke fondly of Jah Digga’s contribution, explaining that although they hadn’t met prior, Digga sent his verse — originally planned as an outro to 'Miracle' — “literally the same day” Sulieman reached out.

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Kofi Stone sat among the audience as 'Never  Meant To Hurt You' (featuring Kofi Stone) played, his feature lifting the energy in the room. The brighter tempo brought a moment of release, met with claps as the track came to a close. 

The album’s political statement arrived with 'Brother'. Speaking on the track’s intention, Suleiman described it as a “calling for something different.” 

After watching a documentary on Stephen Lawrence, he realised they had shared a bus route — a discovery that stayed with him. Referencing the wider context of the time, including marches following the murder of George Floyd, he explained to a now quietly reflective room: “I knew I wanted to talk about it. It was a heavy time for many people.”

“I think when you’re honest, you just connect with everyone,” he reflected while introducing 'Trusted You'. He added: “singing is so therapeutic for me. I really have a joy for singing  — and I hope that comes across.” Listeners leaned forward, focused on catching every lyric, particularly on tracks like 'Cry' and 'What If', where Suleiman confronts negative self-talk, anxiety and loss, exploring what continuing down that path could lead to. 

Chasing was recorded and mastered across London and Zanzibar, subtly weaving heritage into its sonic fabric. So, closing the album with 'Family Song' felt intentional.  Suleiman shared that one of the biggest lessons from the project was “probably to show more gratitude,” explaining that while he doesn’t always express it openly, writing the song felt like a way to honour what his family means to him. 

Rather than feeling like a promotional preview, the listening party felt like an offering — a space held open for honesty, reflection and shared experience. The night ended as it began: people lost in conversation, gathered around board games and cards, sharing plates from The Garden of Afruika. Chasing doesn’t chase attention — it trusts that connection will find its way.

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