Bloc Party front man Kele has shared his new solo single “Home Town Edge”, a track which pays blistering homage to the singer’s London upbringing, and which deftly fuses both Kele’s indie and electronic influences.
Kele Okereke, also known simply as Kele, has carved out a notable career marked by both his success with Bloc Party and his more adventurous solo endeavours. Rising to prominence in the mid-2000s with Bloc Party, his fluttering voice and incisive lyrics rocketed the band to early success. Their debut album Silent Alarm was voted Album of the Year for 2005 by NME, and reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart, before being certified platinum.
While Bloc Party continued to release several more albums, Kele launched a solo career, which saw him begin to branch out into new landscapes. In 2010, he released his debut solo album, “The Boxer,” showcasing a shift from rock to electronic dance music. Tracks like “Tenderoni” demonstrated his versatility and willingness to experimentation with synth pop. His second solo effort, 2014’s Trick, delved deeper into electronic and R&B influences.
In addition to his Bloc Party and solo work, Kele has also written music for theatre, composing the soundtrack for Leave to Remain, a musical about immigration and relationships. His solo work continued to expand with albums like Fatherland (2017), where he embraced a more acoustic, introspective style.
The electro-inspired track features Kele’s delicate vocals over a shimmering rhythmic theme of echoey guitar. The lyrics narrate a chaotic late night journey from Bethnal Green to London’s West End, with the singer declaring his love for his home city. The opening verse paints a childhood scene in East London, while the accompanying music video illustrates these themes in in a nostalgic picture-book style.
“My story starts in Bethanl Green / I steal a cigarette from the homeless man / Like the City boys in Liverpool Street / With my 1990s energy,” the opening lines run. But while Kele said he wanted the song to be a “love letter” to London, “Hometown Edge” also acknowledges issues of race that Kele faced growing up, and the complex fabric of emotions this throws up about a city otherwise loved.
“The taxi driver has a bad case of the ‘can’t takes’ / To hold his tongue / Cause I’m young, black, and I’m handsome,” Kele sings.
And taking to his Instagram account, the singer took the opportunity to connect his messaging to the wave of far-right rioting seen in the UK in the days leading up to the release.
“I wanted hometown edge to be a love letter to my home, London. it feels prescient releasing it today, the morning after my country has shown overwhelmingly that hate has no place on our streets. Seeing what has been happening up and down Britain these last seven days has been hard. it has shaken my core and at times made me question what my place is in this country, but the response from ordinary people up and down the country last night has reminded me how great my country can be when it is united not divided,” Kele wrote.
