Hear Cian Ducrot's backing vocals on new SZA single 'Saturn'

After sharing a teaser of her new single in an ad played during the 2024 Grammys, SZA has finally released 'Saturn' – a track she worked on with Cork-raised singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot.

Cian, who is credited for his backing vocals on the track, shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the song on his Instagram Stories – from working in the studio with SZA, to recording his vocals later that night in his Airbnb.

In his August 2023 interview with Hot Press, Cian spoke to Stuart Clark about working with SZA.

“I’m not a massive pop fan – I mainly listen to hip hop, rap, a lot of jazz and random French stuff – but I went through a phase where I couldn’t stop listening to SZA,” he explains. “And then one day, completely out of the blue, she follows me on Twitter. I’m like, ‘What the actual fuck?!’ Shortly after that, I’m in the toilets at Soho House in London, having a shit and checking my phone, as you do, and discover I’ve been DM’d by SZA. She was asking, ‘When are you going to be in America? Will you please help me finish writing my album?’ I was like, ‘I’ll be fucking there tomorrow’, y’know?

“I eventually made it over to the States the day before she was handing her SOS album to the label,” Cian continues. “I remember pulling up in the car and thinking, ‘You have to calm down.’ Honestly, I was so nervous about how it was all going to turn out. Anyway, I went into the studio and SZA was so lovely, telling me that she was a big fan and had watched all my videos. Inside my head, I was going, ‘Er, no, I’m the fan!’ It was so fucking surreal and got even more surreal when we wrote a song together, which she told me she’s going to put on the deluxe version of SOS. The stories and stuff she shared with me was just mind-blowing.”

Wrote a song with @sza and it’s out now 🤯 also peep if you can hear me doing some bv’s lolhttps://t.co/Ljl4UAaDw7

— Cian Ducrot (@Cian_ducrot) February 23, 2024

Cian released his debut album, Victory, back in August – with the LP topping the charts in Ireland and the UK.

SZA, who was the most nominated artist at the Grammys earlier this month, took home the awards for Best R&B Song ('Snooze'), Best Progressive R&B Album (SOS) and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ('Ghost In The Machine' with Phoebe Bridgers).

The Top Dawg Entertainment artist is expected to release her upcoming Lana project this year.

Listen to 'Saturn' below:

Cian Ducrot plays St Anne's Park, Dublin (June 7); Sea Sessions, Co. Donegal (June 22); and Musgrave Park, Cork (June 28).