Kokoroko by Kemka Ajoko
“a beauty that draws in a casual listener with a catchy, heartfelt harmony or memorable riff, but also provides a rich melange of inspirations for a trained ear, from afrobeat to jazz, soul, funk, and beyond.” HYPEBEAST
"an entrancing, groove-rooted concoction informed equally by jazz, Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and the larger Black music diaspora." SPIN MAGAZINE
“an irresistible ray of sunshine, danceable and joyous.” BROOKLYN VEGAN
“a vital example of not only jazz’s new form but the shape of things to come for British music.” THE GUARDIAN
“Kokoroko are harnessing the transformative nature of Afrobeat for a new generation.” CRACK MAGAZINE
“Closer To Me” LISTEN: https://kokoroko.lnk.to/closertome
Tuff Times Never Last PRE-ORDER: https://kokoroko.lnk.to/tufftimesneverlast
(May 20, 2025) - London-based contemporary jazz collective Kokoroko share their new single “Closer To Me”, the latest taste of their forthcoming second studio album Tuff Times Never Last. Produced by Miles James (Little Simz, Yussef Dayes, Tom Misch), “Closer To Me” is a swaggering and laissez faire number that effortlessly succeeds in creating a vibe to soundtrack the looming start of summer.
Centered around themes of intimacy and longing, “Closer To Me” lyrically follows in the vein of their previous single “Sweetie” – being a track for the lovers and the yearners but this time expressed with greater earnestness. The hypnotic refrain repeated throughout the track “When you call me baby / Baby make me lose control / Do I like it maybe / Sweet my mind and sweet my soul” serves to evoke a palpable air of sensuousness and romance.
Speaking on the decision to creatively explore the matters of the heart with more directness in their music, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said – “You can feel like especially as musicians, you don't want to write about love because everyone’s writing about love. But then sometimes that’s actually, that's all I want to write about. So why not lean into it?”
A Hip-Hop record in essence that recalls the fabled Soulquarians era with tasteful avant-garde funk and neo-soul elements akin to the work of Roy Hargrove, “Closer To Me” is a valiant representation of the band’s growth as songwriters, crafting a track that is accessible and more mass-appealing without sacrificing their musicality.
Speaking on the track’s creative process and inspiration, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said – “‘Closer To Me’ for me is a Hip-Hop record at its core. It doesn’t have any rapping on it, but the drums, the sampling and the feeling of it is very Hip-Hop. It’s like the old Common records”.
“Closer To Me” marks the latest offering from the septet’s upcoming album Tuff Times Never Last which is set for release on July 11th via Brownswood Recordings. The new body of work is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11-song suite, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss and above all perseverance.
The accompanying artwork was painted by Luci Pina, the acclaimed illustrator whose work has been sought and commissioned by the likes of The Cut, Soho House, DICE, Apple Music and It’s Nice That. Embedded within the image is Kokoroko’s ode to London in the summer.
While the afrobeat jazz of their previous work is a core part of the record’s sonic design, the new album largely pulls from British R&B from the 80s, neo-soul, West African disco, bossa nova, lovers rock and funk. Last month, the album’s first single “Sweetie” – the horn-led and wonky-sounding tune saluting West African disco dropped. Upon its release, the single earned praise from The Guardian, Mixmag, Hypebeast, Official Charts, Bandcamp Daily, CLASH, The Line Of Best Fit and a plethora of others.
To coincide with the release of Tuff Times Never Last, Kokoroko will be heading on a full North American tour beginning in July. The tour starts in Philadelphia before heading to Brooklyn, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and more. See full tour routing below and purchase tickets at www.kokorokomusic.co.uk.
Listen to “Closer To Me” above and see tour details below. Stay tuned for more from Kokoroko coming soon.
Upcoming Live Dates 7/30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer 8/01 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel 8/02 - Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival 8/03 - Washington, DC @ 930 Club 8/05 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall 8/08 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater 8/10 - Telluride, CO @ Telluride Jazz Festival 8/12 - La Jolla, CA @ UCSD Ampitheatre 8/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent 8/14 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom | 
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