Kawala - Better With You (Transparent Mint Green Vinyl)

KAWALA today announce their emotionally resplendent debut album ‘Better with You’ which will be released on March 4 th 2022 through EMI records.

To celebrate the announcement the band have also released a brand-new track ‘Good Like This’, a euphoric slice of the band’s intimate song writing, and they’ve also announced a new run of dates (including Shepherds Bush Empire) for April 2022.

“’Good like This’ is on the more intimate side of the album’s range” the band explain. “It’s production style makes it stand out against other songs. We tried to achieve a certain euphoric feel, reflecting the emotional message of the song, and from that was born this hybrid of new and old KAWALA. It’s definitely an interesting turn for us but not something we’re shy or afraid of. That’s why we felt it such a good song to put on the album. It’s written from the point of view of someone giving themself advice. By telling themselves they feel better, they hope that they actually can.”

Containing a spectrum of thoughts and feelings, observations and ideas, the album is driven by golden melodies, danceable afrobeat-inspired rhythms and immediate harmonies that create a truly encompassing atmosphere across its ten songs. The album follows a series of acclaimed EPs and live shows from the North London band over the last two years which have not just seen them establish a fanbase, but forge a living, breathing community of like-minded individuals around them.

Fittingly, their debut album is a celebration of this communality, with a lyrical thread running through its songs charting the band’s growth as people and as artists. The record’s artwork helps reflect this, the band having chosen to ask a number of individuals who have helped them along the way to paint or draw different panels that eventually formed the overall mosaic album cover.

“Most of the songs are journeys,” declares singer Jim Higson, whose voice intertwines with co-frontman and guitarist Daniel McCarthy to drive the band’s tracks. “They’re about achieving something and getting to a new place. We wanted to tell not just our stories, but the stories of everyone who helped us to get where we are now, so the songs represent a much bigger journey.”

Ahead of the album’s release, the band are about to head out on their biggest UK and Ireland tour to date – including a sold-out show at the O2 Kentish Town Forum, the venue at the heart of the London community where the band grew up. They’ll follow these shows with their latest headline tour, announced today, which will see them taking in even bigger venues and culminate Shepherds Bush Empire. Set to be an emotional reconnection between KAWALA and their audience after the pandemic, these dates will also offer fans a first chance to hear some songs ahead of the new record. It truly is ‘Better with You’.

1. Hold Back The Years

2. Searching 3. Marathon

4. Ticket To Ride

5. Sailor

6. Hypnotized

7. Echoes

8. Good Like This

9. Jesse C’mon

10. Never Really Here For Long