Bruises by Jordan Rakei

Hot on the heels of his stunning collaboration with Bonobo – ‘Shadows’ – on his Ninja Tune labelmate’s new album “Fragments”, Jordan Rakei kicks off 2022 with the release of new single ‘Bruises’, the lead single from a 4-track digital EP of the same name released Friday 4th March.

Recalling Jordan’s musical roots and in particular his love of Bob Marley, ‘Bruises’ trips out of the speakers with an overtly reggae-ish swagger. “I wanted to explore my musical roots of reggae music on ‘Bruises’, but put a slightly alternative spin on it,” explains Jordan. “I wrote the string parts and took them to Amika Quartet. We spent a whole day coming up with different ideas for different sections of the song, and I'm really happy with how it all turned out. I had a lot of fun making this track as it takes me back to my earlier days of making music.”

EP opener ‘Defection’ is set to be a new fan favourite, co-written by Jordan with Oli Rockberger. “It's a narrative of finding love and recognising its power in dissolving any other types of issues,” says Jordan. “We wrote it a few years ago, back in 2018, and now glad it finally has a place in the world!”.

Also featured are ‘Lightning’ – written by Jordan’s old friend Georgia Potter (aka Moreton) and blessed with the same sultry electronic production that characterised Rakei’s 2021 album “What We Call Life” – and a beautiful alternate take on ‘The Flood’ recorded at the BBC’s iconic Maida Vale recording studios. “I love reinterpreting my own songs into different versions to suit different live settings or moods,” he says. “I wanted to strip everything back and make this one about the tension and release, rather than overplaying/production.”

Jordan is the lead support on Bonobo’s forthcoming North American tour through February and March before returning to Europe for his biggest headline shows to date in Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Belgium, France and the UK finishing up at O2 Academy Brixton in London on 26th April.

The insanely talented vocalist, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist released his fifth studio album “What We Call Life” in September 2021 to a flood of plaudits from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Popmatters, Wordplay Magazine: “essential modern listening”, “understated yet captivating style”, “destined to be a classic”, “a masterpiece”. The record was #1 in the "Official Record Store Chart Top 40”, #2 in the "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40” and #5 in the "Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40”. Playlisted and in heavy rotation at BBC 6M and Jazz FM, Jordan played his first live shows in 18 months at Cross The Tracks, Repercussions (WHP) and All Points East (guesting with Loyle Carner), did a whirlwind sold-out UK instore tour and a series of incredible live sessions at the legendary BBC Maida Vale studios for Mary Anne Hobbs (BBC 6M) and Jo Whiley (BBC R2), Worldwide FM x Paul Smith, Mahogany and is currently hosting the new series of Tearjerker on BBC Sounds.

“Bruises” EP is released on Friday 4th March via Ninja Tune.

jordanrakei.com