Since I Have a Lover

On February 21, 2023, 6lack posted a video of a billboard announcing that his next album was releasing in March 2023 with the caption "and finally, we’re 6ack, March 2023 — #SIHAL 💐".[8] On February 22, 6lack posted a video snippet for the lead single "Since I Have a Lover", announcing that an album of the same name would be released on March 24, 2023.[9] The single released on March 1.[9] On March 10, 6lack released the single "Talkback".[10] On March 16, 6lack released the single "Fatal Attraction".[11] The album was released on March 24.

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Since I Have a Lover received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.[3] Ammar Kalia of The Observer writes "Yet, with such a long tracklist, Since I Have a Lover is stifled by the weight of its slow and atmospheric fillers. [...] Ultimately, this is the work of an artist in transition, catering to old fans and well-trodden styles while attempting to settle on something new."[6] Dylan Green for Pitchfork concludes "With mixed results, Lover tries to bring that eye and ear to a brighter musical palette and greener romantic pastures. To paraphrase the great Roy Kent, real love should make you feel like you’ve been struck by lightning. 6LACK manages some sparks here and there, but the tingles fade fast."[2]

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer
• ^{^[r]} signifies a recording producer
• "Talkback" features an interpolation of "Shape of My Heart", as performed by Sting.

Musicians

• 6lack – vocals
• Quin – additional vocals (tracks 1, 3, 11)
• Syx Rose Valentine – additional vocals (1)
• Alex Gorchesky – guitar (1)
• Psymun – guitar (1)
• Yakob – guitar (1), string arrangement (11)
• Rascal – drum programming (2)
• Octave – guitar (2)
• Fwdslxsh – synthesizer (2, 7, 13), keyboard arrangements (2); drums, guitar (3); synthesizer (4, 15, 19), drum programming (5, 15, 17), programming (7, 13), string arrangement (11)
• Dylan Wiggins – bass guitar (3), synthesizer (4, 7)
• Alex Goldblatt – guitar (3, 13)
• Sounwave – programming (3)
• Singawd – drum programming (4), synthesizer (18, 19)
• Marco Bernardis – saxophone (4)
• Kill September – synthesizer (4, 18, 19)
• Khris Riddick – drum programming (5)
• India Shawn – additional vocals (6)
• EY – drum programming (7)
• Alex Blake – guitar (7)
• 8AE – additional vocals (9)
• Nick Veinoglou – guitar (10)
• Mereba – additional vocals (12, 19)
• Toian – additional vocals (12)
• ForTheNight – drum programming (12)
• Adriano – guitar (12), piano (12)
• Olu – drum programming (13)
• Kevin Ekofo – guitar (13)
• Syreeta Butler – spoken word (14)
• Beau Nox – background vocals (15)
• Leon Thomas – background vocals (15)
• Don Toliver – vocals (15)
• Slimwav – piano (17)
• Wale – vocals (17)
• Pink Sweats – additional vocals (18)
• Joe Reeves – bass guitar, guitar (18)
• Ashley Williams – choir (18)
• Erik Brooks – choir (18)
• Herman Bryant III – choir (18)
• Shelia Moser – choir (18)
• Steve Epting – choir (18)
• Simon Hessman – guitar (18)
• Crush – violin (18)
• Lauren Jauregui – additional vocals (19)
• Ty Dolla Sign – additional vocals (19)
• Camper – bass guitar, guitar (19)

Technical

• JT Gagarin – mixing
• Jon Castelli – mixing (1–15, 17–19)
• Joshua Deguzman – mix engineering (1–15, 17–19)
• Fwxdslxsh – recording arrangement (1, 2, 13, 15, 18)
• Simon Hessman – recording arrangement (1)
• Rascal – recording arrangement (2, 13)
• Derek "206derek" Anderson – recording (15)
• EY – recording production (16)