Sullivan

TINMAN

TINMAN

List Pick

Rachel Fryer

Rachel Fryer

October 8, 2026

Sullivan's 'TINMAN' leans fully into its Wizard of Oz mythology, opening with 'Let me tell you about a little doll, that opened up my heart' - a fitting introduction to a song about love slowly bringing someone back to life after a period of dormancy. The Tinman reference runs throughout, with nods to Dorothy and, in a nice piece of artist lore, Sullivan himself having played the Tinman in his high school production of The Wiz. Produced by Nice Rec & Sullivan, the track has an almost analogue, crackling texture that gives it a vintage warmth, echoed in the visuals of train tracks and palm trees. Kwame Adu is a natural fit, bringing his own wordplay into the Oz references with a clever nod to Toto before flipping it into the Toto Africa reference. As the song progresses, the tempo picks up, giving the ending a little more movement and energy. Following 'Stagnant' the lead single from his upcoming album Peace Within Purpose, 'TINMAN' continues to show Sullivan building out a sound and visual world that feels distinctly his own. It’s a playful concept, but one that still leaves room for the vulnerability at its centre - Sullivan making a case for love with a little help from Oz.