Chiiild Performed A Medley Of ‘Pirouette’ And ‘Sleepwalking’ For His US Late Night Debut

Chiiild, aka Yonatan Ayal, is releasing his debut album, Hope For Sale in just a few weeks on July 23, and ahead of that big date he’s promoting the record with a late night appearance. Making his late night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the up and coming artist brought his blend of psychedelic rock, R&B, and pop to life. Starting off with the lonesome-sounding “Pirouette,” sitting and playing at the piano alone, eventually the performance built into a much larger scale as he transitioned into the second song, “Sleepwalking.”

For that track, Chiiild left the piano and the camera expanded to show the stage was actually stacked with two other string players. Then, walking from the initial barren room out through a series of colorful pillars, Chiiild made his way to yet another stage, where he was once again joined by live players. Speaking with Uproxx earlier this year, Chiiild spoke about the Black artists that inspire his work, and how their art is really a mirror that reflects society. Based on other early tracks previewing his debut ,like “Gone” and “Eventually,” Ayal will be doing just that with his own music, too. Check out the late night performance above and look out for Hope For Sale in July.

Chiiild’s Dreamy ‘Sleepwalking’ Video Heralds His Debut Album ‘Hope For Sale’

Montreal-based singer Chiiild has been writing music for years now, but made a name for himself with his moving 2020 EP Synthetic Soul. After the project picked up momentum, Chiiild has set his sights on a full-length release. The singer returned Tuesday to officially announce his debut album Hope For Sale with the dreamy track “Sleepwalking.”

“Sleepwalking” arrived alongside an equally tranquil video. Directed by Daniel Regan, the visual seems like a dream itself. It depicts a series of characters moving backwards in time across a remote beach, showing glimpses of a handful of tender moments. Speaking about the experience of making the visual, Regan described it as “a piece about evolutionary love and the subconscious told through dream logic.”

About the song in general, Chiiild said:

“‘How does it feel walking fast asleep, under the moonlight.’ Sleepwalking is a self-reflective song about reclaiming agency over your life. We all have something that makes us special, that nurtured can create something beautiful. With Dan Regan at the helm, the sleepwalking video enters a new dimension. Aiming to create a future nostalgia.”

Ahead of releasing “Sleepwalking” and announcing Hope For Sale, Chiiild sat down with Uproxx to discuss some of the Black artists that have had the biggest impact on Chiiild’s sound. He name-dropped a handful of musicians like the Ethiopian singer Gigi, Massive Attack, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and The Weeknd.

Watch Chiiild’s “Sleepwalking” video above.