A brand new year can only mean one thing…a brand new single (woot to the woot!). After what seems to have been a lifetime of beavering away behind the scenes, I am chuffed to say that my new single ‘Restless City’is finally out there in the public sphere - available to stream, listen and watch (yes, there is a brand spanking new video too!) on all known audio and video streaming platforms!
I know a lot of artists and musicians will say, without sounding too melodramatic here, that their work often comes from the deepest darkest depths of their soul and psyche, but really and truly ‘Restless City’ is definitely that song for me - well at the very least, a product of deep soul searching and reflection! The nuggets of the lyrics came during one of the (if not the) most darkest experiences of my life…holed up in a Ghanaian military safe house for my own protection after a volunteer trip gone wrong (probably weren’t expecting me to say that right?!). Perhaps a little too long winded (plus traumatic and insane) to go in to at length here, but, what I will say, is that my terrifying ordeal in Ghana, prompted me to think about the love/hate relationship I’ve had with London since arriving here 8 years ago, and how, in this perilous situation, I’d never yearned to return to a place so much in my life...my safe-haven. Evocative, intimate and raw, Restless City falls in a similar territory to Celeste's 'Strange' and Sampha's 'No One Knows Me Like The Piano' with its soothing pop-soul melody and relatable lyrics. Even though it was written about an experience that hopefully not many of you (if any) have endured, the broader theme of oscillating between feelings of connection and isolation in your hometown is something I imagine most people can identify with….
BUT before this becomes an essay, I just want to lastly mention how it really did take a village (if not a city ha!) for my song to be brought fully to life. I am so humbled and overwhelmed by the level of support, hours, dedication and investment that went in to this, especially from the incredibly talented Gianluca Pulvirenti (@halfgian) who produced the song, and my absolute rock and extraordinary human/cameraman/video producer and director/ballbuster, Boyan Rista (@thisisboyan) who worked around the clock (and in Boyan’s case cycled one-handedly while filming on a Santander bike around London in freezing Winter conditions), to make the most beautiful track and music video - both of which I am so incredibly proud of! A huge thanks also to the brilliant Cory Barrett (@wtc_cb) for the knock out branding, and to the amazing Lucia Godinez (@instalucyg), for the stunning photography and artwork.
Oh yes, the song is available right now. Check out the video on the website or HERE…your choice!