ALFA MIST Releases New Album 'Variables' (ANTI-) | Genre-Bending, "Shape Shifting Wonder (NPR Music)"

ALFA MIST - ‘VARIABLES’ NEW ALBUM OUT NOW VIA ANTI- LISTEN HERE + WATCH ALBUM VISUALS HERE SHARES NEW SINGLE “FOREWORD” - LISTEN HERE INTERNATIONAL TOUR KICKS OFF IN THE U.S. ON APRIL 27; RETURNING FOR NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL THIS AUGUST “a shape shifting wonder” - NPR Music

Photo credit: Kay Ibrahim  THE GUARDIAN (4 / 5-Star Review): "It all hits just the right note between accessible and experimental: idiosyncratic and intricate yet straightforwardly enjoyable, Variables is unwavering in its brilliance." ALL MUSIC (4 / 5-Star Review): "The arrangements and musicianship are consistently top-notch throughout, and the mood maintains a balance between reflection and optimism, making for one of Alfa Mist's most accomplished and enjoyable works to date."

Today, Alfa Mist releases Variables, his highly anticipated new album and second release via Anti-. The East London artist, producer and label founder will also launch his extensive international tour in support of Variables later this month in the U.S. before returning this August for a performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. The Variables tour will see him perform in venues throughout Japan, Australia, EU and the UK, in addition to the U.S. shows. Of the album, Alfa notes, “I’ve been focused on who I am in my music, but now I’m exploring where I am. I’m asking: how did I get here?” This is the journeying question that underpins his latest record, a collection that is expansive, soulful and moving, in both body and spirit. Listen to Variables in full now: https://alfamist.ffm.to/variables.  Alfa Mist also worked with Australian filmmaker and visual artist SPOD to create an accompanying visual release of the album, based off of the album artwork by Kaya Thomas-Dyke. Watch the full album visuals here: https://youtu.be/ZlMqTCa6aro.  LISTEN TO 'VARIABLES' WITH ALBUM VISUALS

Along with the album release, Alfa Mist has shared the focus track “Foreword.” The song brings absolute sublime jazz bliss: guitars traverse intricate drum rhythms and cascading piano that demonstrates the buzzing jazz artist’s grand ability to orchestrate challenging yet easy-to-love compositions. Listen to “Forward” here: https://youtu.be/liA11Leyuds.  WATCH & SHARE "FORWARD" On Variables, Alfa achieves his most fully-realized, expressive musical work to date, coupling his keen ear for looping, memorably emotive piano melodies with intuitive grooves and a free-flowing jazz improvisation. Variables sees Alfa Mist offer a diverse listening experience, as he dives into the argument of nature versus nurture on the rhythmic ‘Borderline’ to the airy, crystallic sounds of "Cycles." The album’s standout features are captivating, with long-time collaborator and band’s bass player Kaya Thomas-Dyke’s gentle vocals adding an ethereal essence on "Aged Eyes," whilst the South African folk singer Bongeziwe Mabandla drapes the vibrant backdrop and Jas Kayser’s frenetic drum playing with his crystalline falsetto on "Apho." “4th Feb (Stay Awake)” is a lofi offering that pairs Alfa’s reflective bars with a groove-heavy production and “BC” is a colourful swell of expressive and unrestrained percussion, demonstrating the ingenuity of Alfa Mist and his close knit band.  Since the release of his first full-length project Nocturne in 2015, Alfa has established himself as one of the UK’s most focused, in-demand and distinct musical voices. He has worked with the likes of Jordan Rakei and Tom Misch. Artists look to him for his unique blend of intimate bedroom production and expansive jazz group orchestration, since Alfa is yet to be boxed into a specific genre. His music spans everything from hip-hop beat-making to producing for artists such as rapper Loyle Carner, composing neo-classical works for the London Contemporary Orchestra, and reworking tracks from composer Ólafur Arnalds and pioneering jazz label Blue Note.  ‘VARIABLES’ TRACKLISTING 01 - Foreword 02 - Borderline 03 - Aged Eyes (feat. Kaya Thomas-Dyke) 04 - Cycles 05 - The Gist 06 - Genda (Go Away) 07 - Apho (feat. Bongeziwe Mabandla) 08 - Variables 09 - 4th Feb (Stay Awake) 10 - BC listen here: https://alfamist.ffm.to/variables

‘Variables’ artwork by Kaya Thomas-Dyke  ALFA MIST TOUR DATES Apr 27 Philadelphia, PA - The Ardmore Music Hall Apr 29 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg Apr 30 New York, NY - Racket May 02 Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall May 04 Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre May 05 San Francisco, CA - August Hall May 13 Berlin, Germany - XJAZZ! Festival May 20 Norfolk, UK - Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Norwich May 25 Liège, Belgium - Jazz a Liege Festival May 28 London, UK - Cross The Tracks Festival May 31 Sydney, Australia - Sydney Opera House (Vivid LIVE) Jun 02 Adelaide, Australia - Burnside Ballroom Jun 03 Melbourne, Australia - Croxton Bandroom Jun 05 Osaka, Japan - Billboard Live (2x) Jun 07 Tokyo, Japan - Billboard Live (2x) Jun 08 Yokohama, Tokyo - Billboard Live (2x) Jul 9 Istanbul, Turkey - İstanbul Caz Festivali Jul 20 Sion, Switzerland - Palp Festival (Schlösser) Jul 22 Marseille, France - Théâtre Silvain Aug 04 Newport, RI - Newport Jazz Festival Oct 4 Paris, France - La Cigale Oct 09 The Hague, Netherlands - Paard Van Stal Oct 10 Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje Oct 11 Groningen, Netherlands - SPOT/De Oosterpoort Oct 27 Budapest, Hungary - House of Magic Oct 28 Prague, Czech Republic - Mladi Ladi Jazz Festival Nov 16 Dublin, Ireland - Opium Rooms Nov 18 Glasgow, UK - BAaD Nov 19 Manchester, UK - RNCM Concert Hall Nov 20 Bristol, UK - Trinity Nov 22 London, UK - HERE at Outernet

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