English singer songwriter James Bay has released the title and release date for his upcoming album. The singer is set to release his new album Leap on 8th July via EMI Records/Republic Records. The forthcoming record is set to follow the singer’s second studio album Electric Light, which was released in 2018 via Republic Records.
It’s been a long time coming but I’m so excited to finally announce that my third album, Leap, is out on July 8th! It’s available to pre-order now. Also, the second single is called One Life and it’s out NOW!
Let’s do this x https://t.co/ASm8DCsWRL pic.twitter.com/iwuXgBBLHp
— James Bay (@JamesBayMusic) May 13, 2022
Last year the 31-year-old artist underwent a life changing experience when his first child was born, Bay has expressed how fatherhood has influenced his third studio album. Bay recently spoke with NME concerning Leap and the inspiration behind his upcoming release, “I’d never written from this perspective before. I’d never written from a place of such joy and positivity. Lucy and I first got together at 16 and have been together ever since. She’s supported me since day one. From open mic nights, right through to my biggest shows. It’s been one adventure after another, but now we’re on the biggest one of all. Raising our beautiful daughter Ada.”
Give Me The Reason, the first single from my third album is finally here. It’s been a long and winding adventure making all this new music, but every moment was worth it. I love this song, hope you all love it too x https://t.co/snSTjXWF5Q pic.twitter.com/tOQW5b4thA — James Bay (@JamesBayMusic) March 24, 2022
The singer has already dropped two singles from Leap, “Give Me A Reason” was the first track to be taken from Bay’s upcoming album. The track was released on 24th March 2022 and was written as a tribute to Lucy Smith his long-time partner and mother of his daughter. The next track to be released from his upcoming album was “One Life”, the track was made available today alongside the announcement of Leap.
Since the release of Bay’s new music fans have responded positively and have likened the new tracks to his initial sound. The singer’s debut album The Chaos And The Calm was released in 2015 and featured a tracklist heavily influenced by such genres as folk, soft rock and the blues, fans are pleased that his new music sees Bay return to his roots with a stripped back sound.
The “Hold Back The River” hitmaker took fans on an adventure with his second studio album which saw Bay experiment with different genres including electronic music. Bay addressed his experimental album within the interview whilst continuing to describe his upcoming new album, “On my second album, I threw a bunch of synths at my music and electronic sounds, and I had a brilliant time pushing the boundaries in that respect. This time I’ve fallen back to the guitar and an even more stripped-back type of sonic.”
Bay continued to describe his lyrical process, “I’m always going to push boundaries in the music I’m making. The boundaries I’ve pushed this time around have been with the lyrics. I’ve found a way to write from a place of vulnerability that I have not gone to or written from before.”
Last week, Bay debuted his new material during a London show within his Give Me The Reason tour. During a set at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum the singer announced news concerning his new album, Bay confirmed that his upcoming full release will feature more upbeat musical and lyrical themes. Whilst speaking to NME, Bay also spoke about his songwriting, “I think the bridge between what is ultimately more positive songwriting than I’ve ever delivered before and my usual sadness is typically as emotional as it’s ever been, just in a different way and from a different place in me, a place of hope and thanks and joy, and there’s a more positive anticipation of the future,”
Bay is currently finishing his Give Me The Reason tour and will next perform at Sheffield’s Leadmill on 13th May 2022. After the performance, the singer will begin a series of festival appearances in the UK and Europe. Bay’s first festival appearance of the season will take place on 20th May 2022 with a set at Liverpool’s Radio City Hits Live 2022 event.
James Bay UK live dates
13/05/2022 – Leadmill – Sheffield
20/05 – Radio City Hits Live 2022 – Liverpool
28/05 – Neighbourhood Weekender – Victoria Park, Warrington
02/06 – Big Stage @ 1886 – Isle Of Man
05/06 – Wild Roots Festival 2022 – Sligo, Ireland
11/06 – Worcester Racecourse – Worcester
01/07 – Barn On The Farm 2022 – Gloucester
Click here for tickets.
Click here to pre-order Leap.
