The notion and concept of thievery is a complex case of codes and causality. From intellectual property infringements, petty larceny, reactionary impulses, retaliatory measures to all other matters as interpreted by provincial statutes of jurisprudence; the subject of theft takes many forms predicated by various reasons and rationales. From material treasures purloined and stowed away to matters of heart, theft also exists in the emotional and ephemeral spaces and states that are immaterial. It can lie within the in between of action and expression, taking the honest work and genuine gestures of others and keeping it close while hardly giving back in return. This exists in the intricacies of reciprocity, where erring on the side of caution can be a defense measure of self-preservation surrounding feelings of doubt and/or denial. This can be the result of learned traits, where previous experiences of hardship and adversity calcify the fortress walls of the human heart and soul where the acts and arts of loving and accepting, showing and returning the affections of another are met by a wealth of hesitation that is held tightly.

Introducing London by way of Tel Aviv artist Imanuela who debuts the sea breeze samba groove of “Thief” courtesy of the WWNBB collective. From youthful indiscretions of stealing Pokémon candy from her older brother's room and stashing it in her pillow, Imanuela expresses the expanses and antinomies of amour in hushed and subdued tones with a serene timbre. Exploring the cliché tropes of pearls, gold and money that thieves beg, borrow and steal in accordance to their kleptocratic doctrines and ethos — the artist delves into the less than obvious forms of theft that languish in the give and take exchanges of relations. Honing in beyond the transactional pushes and pulls of affection, Imanuela paints in earnest the ways in which we cater and care for those special somebodies and how and where we find our own identity within these relationships. “Thief” exhibits the ways in which we take facets of truths and composites of our being from the world, from others, from ideas, from things that may or may not be our truest selves. Imanuela gently draws upon these interpersonal crises with a forlorn sensibility of searching, longing for reconciliation between loved ones and ourselves in a quest to become (and feel) completely whole and steadfast in our resolve and intimate engagements. “Thief” is about finding that truth from within, casting off the estrangements so that we can no longer be a stranger to ourselves and to our significant others in a quest for unfettered reciprocation that is real, abundant and unlike anything else in the world.

Imanuela provided some exclusive insights on their debut track:

“Thief” is a song of confrontation, of confession. I am a thief, I take, I don't give, only targets I have in mind, empty spaces I fill with my time…

My love isn't a crystal clear fact, it is something to always doubt, always observe and watch and always to keep an open heart for.

lyrics

I am a thief
I take
I don’t give

Only targets I have in mind
empty spaces I fill with my time

can’t seem to let you leave
I want to steal all you can give

Don’t know where else to go
but the spots I already know

Found some pearls
some gold
some money
But it ain’t from my honey

Oh honey
I think I’m a thief
Oh honey
I take I don’t give

Keep you safe
keep you satisfied
but it the mornings I cry

So hard to feel complete
I take from here
I take from there

yet there’s something missing
in my honeymoon suite

Oh honey
I think I’m a thief
Oh honey
I take I don’t give

Oh honey
Throw me to the streets
Oh honey
I take
I don’t give

Imanuela’s “Thief” is available now via WWNBB.