slowthai releases new album ‘UGLY’
British force of nature slowthai has released his third studio album, UGLY, via Method Records / Interscope Records. Following his heavily lauded debut Nothing Great About Britain and his chart-topping sophomore album TYRON where he turned the lens inward, UGLY sees the singular artist once again set to challenge any expectations of how a body of work from slowthai looks and sounds.
Produced by Dan Carey at his home studio in South London alongside frequent collaborator Kwes Darko and further production work from Zach Nahome and Sega Bodega, UGLY (u gotta love yourself) brings slowthai’s love of rock, indie and punk to the forefront and features a fluid combination of musicians including Ethan P. Flynn, Shygirl, Jockstrap’s Taylor Skye, Beabadoobee guitarist Jacob Bugden, drummer Liam Toon, and on the dark and woozy title track, his friends Fontaines D.C.
Preceded by singles and ‘Selfish’ and ‘Feel Good’ (watch the BTS HERE) – both of which launched with contrasting but equally affecting videos displaying yet again slowthai’s versatility both musically and creatively – you’d be some kind of soothsayer if you could second guess this man’s next move. slowthai has also filmed visualizers/videos for every song on the album – check out the visual playlist HERE.
A road warrior and charismatic collaborator, slowthai has made a name for himself in the US over the last several years by sharing the stage with the likes of BROCKHAMPTON, Turnstile, 100 gecs, and Show Me The Body as well as collaborating with luminaries like Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky, Kenny Beats, Denzel Curry, and more. Speaking of the road, a series of intimate shows were conducted by slowthai in pubs and venues across the UK this past week. As he hoped to give his hardcore supporters the opportunity to witness the carnage that is sure to ensue in these small, sweaty rooms, the tickets were priced at an inflation-busting £1. The last show is tonight in Northampton.
Pulling himself apart and exposing his anxieties of the last couple of years is key to this phase of slowthai. The UGLY album cover is suitably up close and personal, with the camera zooming in tight on the left side of his face. The title of the album — an acronym for U Gotta Love Yourself — is freshly tattooed beneath his eye. Musically, this new album may show a side of him that people haven’t heard before but he sees it as the fullest picture yet. “The first album was the sound of where I’m from and everything I thought I knew,” he says. “The second album is what was relevant to me at that moment in time, the present. And this album is completely me — about how I feel and what I want to be… it’s everything I’ve been leading up to.”
“It doesn’t matter what or who people think you are, you’ve just got to stay true and respect yourself. I have UGLY tattooed on my face because it’s a reminder to love myself, rather than put myself down constantly or feel the impression people have of me should determine who I am as a person.”
slowthai
UGLY
March 3, 2023
Method Records / Interscope Records
1. Yum
2. Selfish
3. Sooner
4. Feel Good
5. Never Again
6. Fuck It Puppet
7. HAPPY
8. UGLY
9. Falling
10. Wotz funny
11. Tourniquet
12. 25% Club
UGLY world tour – UK/EU Dates
UGLY tour tickets HERE
20/09 – Barrowland Ballroom – Glasgow
21/09 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester
22/09 – Alexandra Palace – London
23/09 – O2 Academy – Birmingham
27/09 – Elysee Montmarte – Paris, France
28/09 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands
29/09 – Metropol – Berlin, Germany
30/09 – AB – Brussels, Belgium
Connect with slowthai:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud