The acclaimed Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning band Ezra Collective has returned to the global stage with a narrative that resonates deeply with the African continent.
Fresh from headlining the inaugural Montreux Jazz Festival South Africa, the group has officially announced their fourth studio album, Here Because of Hope.
Scheduled for release on 18 September via Partisan Records, the project arrives alongside its powerful lead single, “Only Love,” which features the evocative vocals of Pa Salieu.
A Homecoming Through Sound
The music video for “Only Love,” directed by the visionary Ebenza Blanche and filmed on location in Lagos, serves as a visual testament to the band’s commitment to their roots.
The track itself is an intricate tapestry of West African inspired grooves and euphoric horns, providing the perfect landscape for the deeply personal lyricism of Pa Salieu.
It functions as a dialogue between the African diaspora and the continent, capturing a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.
For Ezra Collective, this connection is far from superficial. Led by British-Nigerian musician Femi Koleoso, the band has always been anchored by the rhythms, spirituality, and communal energy inherent in African music.
Their recent appearance in Johannesburg was more than a tour stop; it was a homecoming that reinforced the band’s long-standing spiritual link to the region.
Drawing Inspiration from South African Legends
The band’s relationship with South African music spans decades, predating their recent performances in the country. Femi Koleoso has often spoken about how the legendary Abdullah Ibrahim shaped his musical consciousness.
Hearing the song “African Marketplace” as a teenager was a transformative moment that Koleoso describes as hitting his soul in a way no other melody had before.
This lineage of influence extends to other members of the group. Trumpeter Ife El Gunjobe cites the iconic Hugh Masekela as the primary reason he chose to pick up the instrument, having been moved by his live performances.
Furthermore, the band has openly embraced the modern evolution of South African sound. Koleoso notes that the Amapiano movement, particularly the innovations pioneered by artists like Black Coffee, has significantly impacted their own sonic palette.
By blending electronic textures with jazz melodies, the band has found a way to honor the soulful, singable qualities of African music.
The Craft Behind “Only Love”
Describing the collaboration on the new single, Koleoso highlights the unique talent of Pa Salieu. The band spent time studying Gambian and West African musical traditions, allowing those structures to influence the basslines and drum patterns of the track.
When they finally linked up in Wood Green, the synergy was instantaneous. According to Koleoso, Pa Salieu brought lyrics that navigated a difficult period in his life, balancing stories of pain with an overriding sense of beauty, joy, and love. The resulting track, “Only Love,” attempts to bridge the gap between those opposing emotional states.
Check out the video for track below:
Defining a New Era with Here Because of Hope
Here Because of Hope follows a monumental period for Ezra Collective, marked by their win for Best Jazz Act at the MOBO Awards and a Jazz FM Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Jazz. The album is a star-studded affair, featuring contributions from Lila Iké, Leona Lewis, Libianca, and readings by BAFTA-winning actor Letitia Wright.
Regarding the evolution of their sound, Ezra Collective‘s members remark that while their early records felt like the work of children, this latest project represents Ezra Collective as adults.
They were driven by a determination to acknowledge the profound pain in the world while insisting that the ultimate destination must be joy. In their view, this album maps the journey from suffering to celebration, with hope serving as the connective force.
Having graced stages ranging from the Royal Albert Hall to the Sydney Opera House and featured in publications like Vogue and Rolling Stone, Ezra Collective continues to break boundaries. With this new project, they reaffirm that their music is as much a part of the African experience as it is a pillar of the British scene.
You can pre-order their upcoming album HERE.
Watch this space for updates in the Music Videos category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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