Mercury Prize-nominated poet of the people Kae Tempest has shared their first new music since The Book of Traps and Lessons was released back in 2019. Entitled ‘More Pressure’ the track is the first we have heard from their upcoming 4th album The Line is a Curve, set for release the upcoming April 6th. The track treats us to a feature from the face of the best boy band since One Direction, BROCKHAMPTON’s Kevin Abstract after the group were introduced to Tempest’s last album through mutual friend Rick Rubin. Watch below the official lyric video for the new track.
Speaking with NME regarding their new more dance-driven, synth-heavy new single; Tempest tells us, “More Pressure’ is the penultimate song on the album, It’s the song that the whole album is building towards in some ways because what it’s saying is that we can reframe some of the stresses that we find ourselves under as possibilities for new growth, new resilience, new acceptance – a new level of energy can come from huge amounts of pressure.” They add, “For me, it’s a song of upliftment, and it’s a switching of focus from some of the more-heavy themes that come up in the record. So, I thought it was a great song to lead with. Also, it’s just got good vibes.”
You can pre-order the new album here. But other than this, no other announcements have been made regarding 2022 for Tempest. There are, however, rumours spreading of a tour announcement to be made on Friday (December 14th). After the resounding success that took Tempest to All Points East, Edinburgh International Festival and Glastonbury in 2019 during the tour for The Book of Traps and Lessons, one can safely assume the announcement will probably end up coming soon.
As well as Abstract’s feature on the lead single, The Line is a Curve also has a number of other guest appearances confirmed; Fontaines D.C. singer Grian Chatten, singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas, ½ of Italian production duo Ássia, South-London rapper Confucius MC, and long-term collaborator Dan Carey who is once again taking on the mantle of producer. These collaborations cement Tempest’s idea for the album, “I feel like I learned what this album was about as I started to make it. For me, the album is about increasing resilience and raising your threshold for tolerance and acceptance. And it’s a very beautiful album, because so many people involved in making it are people that I’ve known and loved for a very long time.”
