THE EZRA COLLECTIVE – ANNOUNCE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM – ‘HERE BECAUSE OF HOPE’

**WITH FIRST SINGLE “ONLY LOVE” FT PA SALIEU – OUT NOW**

Lead press shot – Credit. Sergio Pontier

Fresh off of headlining the new music stage at BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend, Ezra Collective announce their brand-new fourth studio album ‘Here Because of Hope’, set for release on Sept 18th via Partisan Records, alongside the release of its first single “Only Love” featuring Pa Salieu. Watch the stunning new video for “Only Love” below, creative directed by Ebenza Blanche (Little Simz, Gucci) and shot on location in Lagos, and pre-order the album HERE.

LISTEN TO “ONLY LOVE” FT. PA SALIEU

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

‘Here Because of Hope’ marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for Ezra Collective, arriving after a historic few years that saw the band become the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize before going on to win the BRIT Award for Group of the Year. Expansive, emotional and deeply rhythmic, the album captures a band continuing to push the boundaries of contemporary British music while remaining rooted in the community, spirituality and collective energy that has defined them from the very beginning. With excerpts read by BAFTA-winning actor Letitia Wright, the album will include features from Pa Salieu, Lila Iké, Leona Lewis and Libianca.

The album’s first single “Only Love” sees Ezra Collective join forces with Pa Salieu for the very first time, uniting two artists whose music is deeply shaped by diasporic identity, rhythm and storytelling. Built around West African-inspired grooves, euphoric horns and Pa’s deeply personal lyricism, the track finds beauty in resilience, joy and survival.

Speaking on the track, bandleader Femi Koleoso says “Pa Salieu has been a musician that we have long admired in Ezra Collective. Not just because of his incredible lyricism and storytelling but also his ability to weave in his Gambian heritage and roots into such a distinctly UK sound.

In 2024 we had the beautiful moment playing at Wembley Arena, looking out into the crowd and seeing Pa Salieu dancing and partying with his friends and in that moment, I had the very thought we need to make a song together for this kind of setting. I spent some time studying West African music, studying Gambian music, and let that influence the bassline of this track and the drumbeat. We linked up with Pa in Wood Green and immediately his stories started to flow, he came with a bunch of lyrics that he had from a really hard time he went through, but in those lyrics were so many stories of pain but also beauty, joy and love, and we were trying to find that beautiful place in the middle of those two things, and that’s how we came about this song.”

Here Because of Hope follows another landmark year for the group. Alongside winning Best Jazz Act at the MOBO Awards and receiving the Jazz FM Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Jazz, the band recently celebrated ten years of their seminal debut EP Chapter 7 with a special anniversary reissue and intimate fan event at London’s Colour Factory in collaboration with Jazz re:freshed.

Reflecting on the album, Ezra Collective say “our fourth offering is a really prominent and beautiful time because it feels like our first records were really Ezra Collective as children, this one really feels like Ezra Collective as adults. There’s been so many moments of joy, so many moments of excitement, but at the same time it’s impossible not to look at the world and feel deep pain and sadness, and we were really determined to write an album that still sees the prominent importance and final destination being joy, but also recognises the pain and the momentary difficulties that people are facing. This album is the journey from that pain to joy, and the connective word in the middle is hope. We hope that this album makes people dance, We hope it makes people cry. There are stories woven into every single fabric of the record, and those stories most eloquently put by 5 adults that met as children.”

‘Here Because of Hope’ Album Artwork

Over the past decade, Ezra Collective have become one of the defining British bands of their generation. From sold-out shows at Wembley Arena, Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club through to triumphant performances at Glastonbury, Central Park SummerStage, Sydney Opera House to name a few, the group have consistently expanded the possibilities of UK jazz while bringing its spirit to global audiences.

Across media, the band have graced the covers of ES Magazine, Mixmag, Music Week and The Observer New Review, alongside features in Vogue, Billboard, Rolling Stone and NME, while standout television appearances have included The Graham Norton Show and The Jonathan Ross Show.

With Here Because of Hope, Ezra Collective continue their journey with their most ambitious and emotionally expansive project to date, reaffirming not only their place at the forefront of contemporary British music, but the sense of joy, connection and optimism that has always sat at the heart of everything they do.

‘Here Because of Hope’ Tracklist

1. Part 1 (Read by Letitia Wright)

2. Blow Your Trumpet

3. Sweet Echo

4. Don’t Worry

5. Only Love feat. Pa Salieu

6. Someday

7. Part 2 (Read by Letitia Wright)

8. Birdie Sings

9. The Last Stand

10. Well Organised feat. Lila Iké

11. El Corazón