[ad_1]
South London-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wu-Lu (aka Miles Romans-Hopcraft) announces his new album, LOGGERHEAD, out July 8th on Warp Records, and shares the lead single, “Blame.” Born out of fearless self-examination and expression, LOGGERHEAD is music for the ignored, underrepresented, and those without a voice. Drawing on a dizzying array of influences from DJ Shadow to early ‘90s Slipknot, LOGGERHEAD is a soundtrack to our troubled times and cements Wu-Lu’s status as one of the UK’s most vital new artists.
“Blame” is glitchy and industrial, complete with hyperactive breakbeats and distorted megaphone lyrics. The accompanying video, featuring a preview of LOGGERHEAD track “Ten,” is directed by Denisha Anderson. “‘Blame’ is about a breakdown in communication between my inner voice and external voice, and a situation that arose which led me to end a relationship,” explains Wu-Lu.
Watch Wu-Lu’s Video for “Blame / Ten”
LOGGERHEAD is the anthemic sound of London in 2022, and that sound is intense. The album’s twelve tracks blend deeply-charged post-punk, thrashed-up skate-park screamo, and gauzy hip-hop. Wu-Lu and his band crafted LOGGERHEAD at a West London pub and Norway’s Betty Fjord Clinic. They returned with an almost-complete album, drawn from jams and chopped up samples. The album touches on themes of anxiety, guilt, and facing one’s fears. “It’s a patchwork of situations that have happened, but it’s a cohesive thing of trying to understand where someone is coming from and trying to explain where you’re coming from – relatable situations,” says Wu-Lu of his stream of consciousness, freestyled lyrics.
Wu-Lu grew up considering himself a grunge kid, listening to everything from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to grime. He learned how to play trumpet from his musician dad before switching to bass and starting a band with his twin brother and their friend. He then discovered DJing and beat making from the jungle and hip-hop records given to him from his dancer and youth worker mom, falling in love with turntablism via the 2001 cult documentary Scratch.
LOGGERHEAD follows Wu-Lu’s self-released 2015 album, Ginga, and two EPs (2018’s ‘N.A.I.S’ and 2019’s ‘S.U.F.O.S’). Last year, Wu-Lu released the acclaimed singles “South” and “Times,” signing with Warp soon after and releasing “Broken Homes.” His artist name is an adaptation of the Amharic word for water – ‘wu-ha’ – adjusted to avoid confusion with the Busta Rhymes track. Like water, he can shift and adapt around any obstacle, creating creative alliances with artists including Lea Sen and black midi’s Morgan Simpson (both of whom appear on LOGGERHEAD).
Next week, Wu-Lu plays The Great Escape in Brighton followed by a full UK and European tour through the summer. A full list of dates are listed below with more to be added in the coming weeks. At shows, Wu-Lu will be putting an extra mic on stage so that anyone who needs to vent can come on stage and scream. He’s making shows all ages wherever possible and he’s planning a tour of youth clubs, because 2022 requires togetherness – and because years as a youth worker means Wu-Lu knows why togetherness matters.
Listen to “Blame”
Pre-order LOGGERHEAD
LOGGERHEAD Tracklist
1. Take Stage
2. Night Pill feat. Asha
3. Facts
4. Scrambled Tricks
5. South feat. Lex Amor
6. Calo Paste feat. Léa Sen
7. Slightly
8. Blame
9. Ten
10. Road Trip
11. Times
12. Broken Homes
Wu-Lu Tour Dates
Fri. May 13 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape
Sat. May 14 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Sun. May 15 – Birmingham, UK @ Hare & Hounds
Thu. June 9 – Mannheim, DE @ Maifield Derby Festival
Sat. June 11 – Ferropolis, DE @ Melt Festival
Fri. June 17 – The Hague, NL @ Grauzone Festival
Sat. June 25 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival
Thu. June 30 – Lärz, DE @ Fusion Festival
Sat. July 2 – Belfort, FR @ Les Eurocks Festival
Sat. July 9 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
Sun. July 10 – London, UK @ Rough Trade East
Fri. July 15 – Leeuwarden, NL @ Welcome To The Village
Fri. July 29 – Saint-Nazaire, FR @ Les Escales Festival
Sat. Aug. 6 – Tasov, CZ @ Beseda U Bigbítu
Thu. Aug. 11 – Rees-Haldern, DE @ Haldern Pop Festival
Sat. Aug. 13 – Winterthur, CH @ Musikfestwochen Festival
Wed. Aug. 17- Charleville-Mézières, FR @ Le Cabaret Vert Festival
Sat. Aug. 20 – Saint-Malo, FR @ La Route du Rock Festival
Sat. Aug. 27 – La Tour-de-Peliz, CH @ Nox Orae Festival
Fri. Sep. 2- Salisbury, UK @ End Of The Road Festival
Thu. Sep. 8 – London, UK @ Village Underground
Sat. Sep 10 – Acquaviva, IT @ Live Rock Festival
Leave a Reply