Bloc Party frontman Kele has shared a new solo single called ‘Hometown Edge’ – you can listen to it below.
The glitchy, electronic-leaning track follows the singer – full name Kele Okereke – on a debauched nighttime journey through London, beginning at Bethnal Green. “Take me, take me, take me to the West End,” he sings after hailing a cab.
Later, he adds: “On the Strand, I blow a kiss to my effigy/ Over the river where Terry meets Julie/ Racing down Whitehall, the whips have lost control/ We’re speeding now, non-stop green lights.”
In a statement about the song, Okereke explained: “I realise London has been a constant source of inspiration for me as a songwriter.
“In my writing it’s always been there on the periphery, but it felt right doing something where my love for the city was front and centre. Over the years, life in the capital has shaped who I am and what I am, so it was nice to pay homage to that.”
‘Hometown Edge’ marks Okereke’s first solo project since his sixth studio album ‘The Flames Pt. 2’, which came out in March 2023. It arrives with a London-themed official lyric video – tune in below.
The single serves as the first preview of Okereke’s brand-new solo project, due out later this year via KOLA Records/!K7.
Okereke told NME last year that ‘The Waves Pt. 1’ (2021) and ‘The Flames Pt. 2’ were the first two instalments of a four-part series called ‘The Singing Winds’.
“What I’m most excited about is the idea of all four of the records working together, as some of the songs, the themes and the characters will be reappearing throughout the project,” he explained.
Okereke has posted another statement on X/Twitter this morning about how it feels “prescient” to be releasing ‘Hometown Edge’ following numerous anti-racism protests across the UK. “[…] My country has shown overwhelmingly that hate has no place on our streets,” he wrote.
“Seeing what has been happening up and down Britain these last 7 days has been hard. It has shaken my core and at times made me question what my place is in this country.”
He added: “But the response from ordinary people up and down the country last night has reminded me how great my country can be when it is united not divided.” See the post below.
https://t.co/uNn3hcizVx pic.twitter.com/8Y2ouwhas4
— Kele (@keleokereke) August 8, 2024
Last month saw Bloc Party celebrate their 20th anniversary by playing their biggest headline show to date at Crystal Palace Park in London. The band also played a packed-out set on the Other Stage at Glastonbury 2024 in June.
Ahead of their long-awaited return to Worthy Farm, Bloc Party released a new single titled ‘Flirting Again’. Their sixth and latest full-length record, ‘Alpha Games’, arrived in 2022.
Speaking to NME around that time, Okereke opened up about the differences between working solo and with Bloc Party. “The thing about good bands is that it’s a collaboration between all the members and that’s what’s exciting,” he said.
“That’s why it’s thrilling: the alchemy of different musicians and what they can bring to it. I get that and I live for it.”
He continued: “But at the same time I like being able to take an idea on my own as far as it will go and not have to share it with other people. It’s two different ways of working but I enjoy them both. It’s a bit like having an affair and then coming back to your wife.”
You can revisit the full video interview for NME‘s ‘In Conversation’ series above.
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