Veteran Durham, NC-based record label Churchkey Records has partnered with newly-launched SugarQube Records to release shirlette ammons’ sophomore album Language Barrier. The first single, “Earth Intro”, features a guest appearance by Grammy Award-winning duo The Indigo Girls. Other guests on the album include Meshell Ndegeocello, Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso), Hiss Golden Messenger, German rapper sookee, Heather McEntire (Mount Moriah), Median (Foreign Exchange Music Group), Joceyln Ellis, and Phil Cook (Megafaun). All of the music was composed by Daniel Hart whose credits include St. Vincent and Broken Social Scene amongst others. shirlette worked with a broad and talented roster of award-winning guests to create a record that blends and bends genres.

“As a part of the whole Language Barrier concept, I wanted to write an album that explores the ways we love across imposed and implied barriers. In this sense,Language Barrier is an album about love as an act of resistance. I also wanted to approach genre as a ‘barrier’ then break it down.” The album seamlessly moves between indie and classic rock, hip hop and ambient soul. “To have an opportunity to work with Meshell, The Indigo Girls, Amelia, Hiss Golden Messenger—and all on one record—is a dream come true,” shirlette says.

SugarQube Records is the brainchild of identical twins shirlette and Shorlette Ammons, and Language Barrier is their debut release. Asked about working with SugarQube to release Language Barrier, Churchkey’s Kyle Miller and Steve Jones said “shirlette is such a fantastic artist, and we’ve wanted to work on a record with her for years—we’re thrilled and flattered to be working together with the Ammons twins as they launch SugarQube Records.”