Fresh off headlining the new music stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Ezra Collective have announced their highly anticipated fourth studio album, Here Because of Hope. Scheduled for release on September 18th via Partisan Records, the project marks a bold new chapter for the defining British band. The announcement is accompanied by the release of the lead single, "Only Love," featuring Pa Salieu.
The new track is built around West African-inspired grooves, euphoric horns, and Salieu's deeply personal lyricism, capturing beauty and resilience born out of difficult times. Bandleader Femi Koleoso noted that the collaboration was inspired by seeing Salieu dancing at the band's Wembley Arena show, which led Koleoso to study Gambian and West African rhythms to craft a baseline specifically tailored to Salieu's distinct UK sound. The single arrives alongside a stunning music video filmed on location in Lagos, creative directed by Ebeneza Blanche.
Here Because of Hope follows a historic period for the group, who became the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize before securing the BRIT Award for Group of the Year. The 17-track record features spoken-word excerpts read by BAFTA-winning actor Letitia Wright, alongside guest appearances from Lila Iké, Leona Lewis, and Libianca.
The band views this record as a mature milestone, moving forward from their early identity into adulthood. The songs deliberately navigate the journey from global pain and momentary difficulties to ultimate joy, with hope serving as the crucial connective thread.
Over the past decade, Ezra Collective have expanded the global possibilities of UK jazz, selling out venues like the Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, alongside performances at Glastonbury and the Sydney Opera House.
Following a landmark year that included winning Best Jazz Act at the MOBO Awards, the group is set to play several UK summer festivals, including Love Supreme and Lost Village, as they bring their most emotionally expansive project to date to live audiences.
