London’s acclaimed contemporary jazz collective Kokoroko returns with the radiant new single “Closer To Me,” out today and taken from their highly anticipated sophomore album, Tuff Times Never Last, due out July 11 via Brownswood Recordings.
?? Listen to “Closer To Me”: kokoroko.lnk.to/closertome
?? Pre-order the album: kokoroko.lnk.to/tufftimesneverlast
Produced by Miles James (Little Simz, Yussef Dayes, Tom Misch), “Closer To Me” is a laid-back, groove-laden track that blends elements of jazz, funk, and neo-soul with an intimate lyrical tone. Exploring themes of love, vulnerability, and romantic longing, the single builds on the earnest emotionality of Kokoroko’s previous release “Sweetie,” offering what co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey calls “a track for the lovers and the yearners.”
“You can feel like especially as musicians, you don’t want to write about love because everyone’s writing about love,” says Maurice-Grey. “But sometimes that’s all I want to write about. So why not lean into it?”
“At its core, this is a Hip-Hop record,” adds co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth. “It doesn’t have any rapping on it, but the drums, the sampling, the feeling—it’s like those old Common records.”
Tuff Times Never Last finds Kokoroko expanding their sonic identity—anchored in Afrobeat and jazz—by weaving in threads of British R&B, bossa nova, lovers rock, West African disco, and experimental soul. Across 11 vibrant tracks, the album explores connection, memory, resilience, and joy. It is an affirmation of perseverance, carried by lush horn sections, intoxicating rhythms, and rich ensemble chemistry.
The album artwork, created by celebrated illustrator Luci Pina, serves as a visual love letter to London summers—encapsulating the warmth, diversity, and community at the heart of Kokoroko’s music.
To support the album, the band will embark on a headline North American tour kicking off July 30 in Philadelphia, with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more, including appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival and Telluride Jazz Festival.
TUFF TIMES NEVER LAST – TRACKLIST:
- Never Lost
- Sweetie
- Closer To Me
- My Father in Heaven
- Idea 5 (Call My Name) (feat. LULU)
- Three Piece Suit (feat. Azekel)
- Time and Time (feat. Demae)
- Da Du Dah
- Together We Are
- Just Can’t Wait
- Over / Reprise
KOKOROKO – NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
- 07/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
- 08/01 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
- 08/02 – Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival
- 08/03 – Washington, DC @ 930 Club
- 08/05 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
- 08/08 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater
- 08/10 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Jazz Festival
- 08/12 – La Jolla, CA @ UCSD Amphitheatre
- 08/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
- 08/14 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
? Tickets available at kokorokomusic.co.uk
BAND LINEUP:
Sheila Maurice-Grey – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals
Onome Edgeworth – Percussion
Anoushka Nanguy – Trombone, Vocals
Tobi Adenaike – Guitar, Vocals
Yohan Kebede – Keyboards, Synths, Vocals
Duane Atherley – Bass, Vocals
Ayo Salawu – Drums, Vocals
Additional: Chelsea Carmichael – Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute
PRAISE FOR KOKOROKO:
“A beauty that draws in casual listeners and trained ears alike.” – HYPEBEAST
“A groove-rooted concoction informed by jazz, Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat, and the Black music diaspora.” – SPIN
“An irresistible ray of sunshine.” – Brooklyn Vegan
“A vital example of the shape of things to come for British music.” – The Guardian
“Harnessing the transformative nature of Afrobeat for a new generation.” – CRACK Magazine
CONNECT WITH KOKOROKO:
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