Rosie Lowe Debuts Slinking, Neo-Funk PHAROAH, Sophomore Album YU 5/10

With the upcoming release of her sophomore album YU, UK singer Rosie Lowe is unveiling her latest single "Pharoah", a reference to Pharoah Sanders, taking her unique brand of psychedelic reverb-laden R&B/soul a step further. Having worked with artists like Jay Electronica (featured on YU) and Little Simz, Rosie Lowe brings a certain piercing minimalism and funky neo-soul to the forefront. The slow build of the blues guitar and low sensuality of "Pharoah" combines with the female-centric visuals celebrates the power in the body of a woman.

Rosie Lowe's much-anticipated second album YU will see a release on Wolf Tone on May 10th. The record is introduced by stunning first single "Birdsong", which first aired asAnnie Mac's Hottest Record In The World. YU marks a new dawn for Rosie Lowe. In their warmer, sensual and cosmic textures, her singles act as the perfect window into Lowe's second album - a record that asks bigger questions of how the heart and mind works, and ultimately finds power through opening up both.

Stream "Pharoah" here!

MORE ON ROSIE LOWE:
A songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and DJ, Rosie Lowe's work digs into a richly complex mix of musical and emotional experiences. On debut album 'Control' she was striding out alone, tackling politics, feminism and modern relationships. But if 'Control' was about self, 'YU' - says Rosie - "is about other. I wanted to write about my experience of sharing my life with another as a lover, friend and partner." These are intensely songs of the mind, which makes sense after all when you consider the fact that Lowe is also training in psychotherapy. And it's a process of analysis which allows 'YU' the broader scope to interrogate life as a twentysomething in London, as an artist empowered and in control.

As much as it explores new sounds and stories, 'YU' also sees Rosie Lowe look back on her life, and all those things that make 'YU'. She grew up as one of six kids in rural Devon, having learnt the saxophone young (which she still plays and adores) and been exposed to a broad mix of soul, jazz, funk and R&B; influences which come to glorious fruition on her second album, where inspiration ranges from Childish Gambino, Gabriel Garzon Montano and Erykah Badu to childhood heroes like Ella Fitzgerald or Charlie Parker. Lowe realised early on, too, that love was a fragile, difficult thing, her parents splitting up resulting in weekends spent living out of a bag. Time spent at Goldsmiths and later working behind the scenes at big labels reinforced Rosie's need to operate outside of the regular rules (whether in relationships, or making music). One listen to 'YU' and the strength achieved when you broaden these horizons becomes immediately apparent - which for Lowe, in part involved allowing others in more. Released in collaboration with Paul Epworth's Wolf Tone and reuniting Rosie with producer and co-writer Dave Okumu, the record also features a rare appearance from Jay Electronica, some of the UK's most respected vocalists on BVs, and leading lights across the contemporary jazz and dance scenes (Sam Shephard, Alfa Mist).

Despite its richly classic feel, what's emerged on 'YU' is an album on thoroughly modern, twenty-first-century love: its childhood myths and more pragmatic realities, its utopias and difficult weathers. Those moments when you find out how you are, who you are, and if you're brave enough, you let it all bleed through. On her stunning second album, 'YU', Rosie Lowe has also done just that.

YU Tracklist:

1. Lifeline
2. The Way (feat. Jay Electronica)
3. Birdsong (feat. The P Funk Choir)
4. Pharoah
5. Valium
6. Mango
7. ITILY
8. Little Bird
9. Royalty
10. Body // Blood
11. YEEM
12. Shoulder
13. Apologise