JORDAN RAKEI ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM THE LOOP FOR MAY 10TH ALONGSIDE BRAND NEW SINGLE “FREEDOM”

Watch/Listen to "FREEDOM" HERE / Pre-order The Loop HERE

Full UK & EU tour for autumn 2024 on sale Feb 2, including a second night at London's Royal Albert Hall

26 JANUARY 2024 (TORONTO, ON) — Jordan Rakei kicks off his 2024 with some big news. Not only does he bring you his soul-drenched, funked up new single "FREEDOM" and confirms details of his fifth studio album The Loop for a May 10th release, he also announces a huge UK & EU live tour - a multi-city run that culminates in TWO headline shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the second of which goes on sale as part of the full tour after the first date sold out in under a week. Jordan will also be performing at the BBC 6Music festival on March 9 in Manchester alongside The Smile, Young Father and many more.

Jordan returned in late October with his new single, "Flowers", the first track from this new album. An exposing and emotional song that marked the beginning of his signing with new label partner Decca (and Verve Forecast in the US). An ode to his wife, ‘Flowers’ perfectly showcased Jordan’s affecting vocal and ability to reveal his truest feelings, wrapped in his captivating production, it has received 1.1M streams to date and had extensive radio support from BBC 6 Music (A list), Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio X.

"FREEDOM", this new single, launched as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record on Monday and is brimming with the overriding gospel and soul influences you can hear throughout the new album. It’s steeped in drama, thrilling with the choir’s abrupt cry of “Freedom!” and the skittering hi-hat. “To me, freedom is the absence of dread or sadness and to have the ability and opportunity to embrace happiness in life.”Rakei explains of the track’s theme, “I am lucky enough to find happy moments in walking my dog, meditating on my bed, seeing live music and watching my son play and explore.” The propulsive energy in the song’s rhythm urges us onwards, reminding us that we have the power to enact change in our own lives.

Hope is a running theme across The Loop and marks a new chapter in Jordan’s career that coincides with a number of profound changes in his personal life. It’s an extraordinary record, not least for its sheer, breathtaking ambition whistle retaining the experimental, off-kilter vibe he’s synonymous with. Along with his typically bold production style are spectacular orchestral arrangements and haunting choirs, hypnotic beats and an Odyssean-style narrative that charts a course through times of darkness and positivity.

Recorded at RAK Studios, self-produced and mixed by Ben Baptie, fans and critics will note how on The Loop, Rakei has stepped away from the DIY sound he was once known for (and still loves). He grew up listening to artists such as Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield and D’Angelo and having returned to immersing himself with their music recently, he knew he didn’t want this new album to sound like it was made in a bedroom. Inspired by a Bill Withers documentary, in which his hero ignored the contempt of his peers for daring to reach higher, Rakei set about assembling a crack team of musicians to fulfill his own crystal clear ambitions for this album.

“I wanted to get back to why I fell in love with music in the first place.”Jordan explains.“I found myself listening to my favourite artists again and I wanted to make an ambitious record that was centered around my vocal. I had ano-judgement approach when it came to production and songwriting choices. The album title refers to that cycle of being a child, and then having children, and the relationship with the inner child. We move forward in life on a loop that never ends and I wanted to explore that vulnerability in my lyrics.”

GRAMMY-award nominated Jordan Rakei is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, and songwriter who, over soon-to-be-five studio albums, has been on a wide-ranging journey that explores the outer reaches of his inner psyche, traversing themes of emotional evolution, personal growth and family with unwavering sincerity. Always positioning himself in and amongst the bigger questions in life, he has navigated his musical journey with passion and precision, unveiling something new about himself through his songwriting at every turn. The Loop is by far Rakei’s most cohesive and evolutionary work to date following an impressive career of previous releases, each of which have demonstrated his natural curiosity and capabilities in exploring new sounds.

After making waves in the soul, jazz and electronic scene on his arrival in London from Australia in 2015, he self-released his debut Cloak a year later before signing to influential indie label Ninja Tune ahead of his second album Wallflower (2017). Third and fourth albums Origin (2019) and What We Call Life (2021) completed his deal with Ninja Tune. He has recorded live sessions for COLORS, NPR’s Tiny Desk and BBC 6 Music (at the iconic Maida Vale Studios), sold out Brixton Academy, amassed over one billion streams across his catalogue, and, crucially, continued to showcase his versatility as an artist capable of blending subtle electronic elements with his signature, soulful sound.

Jordan’s prolific career has seen him rub shoulders with an array of musical mavericks. From underground up and comers to true legends in their field - his roll call of collaborations, co-writes, production credits or simply just devoted fans, is one of awe. He has collaborated as both a writer/producer and vocalist with the likes of Loyle Carner, Tom Misch, Disclosure, Bonobo, FKJ and many more. He is, and continues to be, an artist’s artist in the truest sense.

(The Loop Album Artwork)

The Loop Tracklist:

1. Flowers

2. Freedom

3. Friend or Foe

4. Royal

5. Trust

6. State of Mind

7. Hopes and Dreams

8. Learning

9. Cages

10. Forgive

11. Everything Everything

12. Miracle

13. A Little Life

Pre-order The Loop HERE

Jordan will tour The Loop in September and October this year. Tickets go on sale on February 2nd. For a full list of tour dates and itinerary, visit jordanrakei.com.

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