After a series of collaborations since the beginning of 2021, Kehlani returns on September 17 with “altar”—the lead single from their third studio album, blue water road.

The Oakland native revealed the track in a Twitter post along with a snippet on September 14, a few hours after the album’s announcement. She then expanded in a separate tweet on the single’s meaning, which honors the spirits of their loved ones:

to all those i have lost, all the angels i have gained, all those that walk with me with hands cracking my chest open, this is for you. i love you! 🕯