Live Review: Jordan Rakei shows 'Nerve' & announces new album, 'Wallflower'

New Zealand born / Brisbane raised / London living JORDAN RAKEI has announced his new album, Wallflower, offering ‘Nerve’ as its latest single.

The 25 year old multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer has a defined dexterity in his music, encompassing soul and emotion within its sinuous sonic envelopments. Since relocating to London in recent years, Rakei has extensively evolved the maturity and flair of his compositions, developing his writing and embarking on collaborations with fellow up-and-comers Loyle Carner and Tom Misch.

Jordan Rakei’s forthcoming new album, Wallflower, sees the artist burgeoning beyond the verges of his original, more notably buoyant sound. The record’s first release, ‘Sorceress’, is simply bursting with depth and intensity as its smouldering, soulful vocals sail smoothly through riotous layers of instrumental textures.

‘Nerve’ unveils heavier influences of RnB and pop, flaunting juicy funk-infused guitar riffs, suave piano foundations and a swooning combination of vocal harmonies and swelling strings. Dave Okumu of The Invisible features on guitar, inciting an upbeat vibe as the lyrics call out the illusions within self-constructed paradigms. The lyrics' perturbed nuances eventually become more revealed as gnarling synths spill through the tone of the song’s initially carefree sonic structure.

Wallflower is set to have a stronger focus on live instrumentation, integrating traditional roots of blues and jazz styled grooves to frame the pneumas of Jordan Rakei’s musical identity. Sonically lush and complex, yet lyrically relatable and unguarded, this record can in many ways be interpreted as an emotional response to new and tumultuous surroundings.

Wallflower is due out on 22 September via Ninja Tune.

Words by FREYA DINESEN

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

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JORDAN RAKEI’S TRACK ‘SORCERESS’ IS SMOULDERING AND SOULFUL

REMI HITS ANOTHER HOME RUN WITH JORDAN RAKEI IN THE POWERFUL ‘LOSE SLEEP’