On September 11, singer-songwriter Corden “Heavy-Unit” Barrett will release his latest single, “My Sunrise,” across all major streaming platforms. Featuring the soulful vocals of Latoya H-d, the track is a heartfelt celebration of love, resilience, and the beauty of Black women.
According to Barrett, the story of “My Sunrise” began years ago when his friend Denver met a young woman at the Sunrise Restaurant at Jane and Finch. Unable to recall her name, Barrett nicknamed her “Sunrise.” Watching her bring joy to Denver’s life sparked the phrase: “You’re my sunrise girl; you light up my life.”
Though he carried that line with him for years, it wasn’t until recovering from a work-related injury that Barrett finally put pen to paper. “I was working a desk job, reflecting on life, and felt inspired to write something that celebrated our Black queens—the real melanated women who nurture, uplift, and shine so brightly,” Barrett explains.
Once the lyrics and melody took shape, Barrett brought the idea to Orville Williams of Dajourney Productions, where he laid down his lead vocals. For a special touch, he invited Latoya H-d to add background harmonies. “Usually, I do my own backing vocals,” Barrett shares, “but I wanted something different this time—Latoya lifted the song to another level.”
The track then moved to Courick Clarke (Koriq) of Heartcor Productions, who mixed and mastered the piece, bringing together contributions from Jermaine Campbell on drums, Nyerere Thomas on guitar, and Barrett himself on key bass, with Koriq overdubbing keyboards.
Artwork for the single was created by Michal Woznica and Cheniette Barrett of Soulwise Photography, perfectly complementing the song’s uplifting spirit.
At its heart, “My Sunrise” is more than just a love song—it’s a tribute. “Women nurture and take care of so much,” Barrett says. “We should be celebrating them every day. “I wanted this song to be a reminder that they are beautiful, loved, and the light in our lives.”
