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To continue teasing his forthcoming debut album WORK due March 10th, London multidisciplinary artist Rarelyalways shares the new single "REVIEW." With a twinkling synth-laced, bass heavy beat complementing Rarely's strategic and cheeky lyrics, "REVIEW" continues to showcase the chameleonic qualities of the artist.
Rarely explains the meaning behind "REVIEW," stating, "I believe water is only one of many of the Divine creator’s inventions. In the chorus I disclose my action plan confirming 'water, hand on my waist before they wither away, rejuvenate.' I honestly felt that 'REVIEW' brought more life back into the hip-hop culture."
"REVIEW" follows the previous WORK offerings "URGENT," a haunting and surreal track, the playful lead single "LET'S," and the jazzy b-side "Voice note 0142," all of which arrived paired with videos directed by frequent collaborator MadeInEden.
WORK will follow Rarelyalways' collaborative Manic EP with Hanni El Khatib, featuring the stand out single "Lamenting" as well as his 2020 EP Baby Buffalo. His debut EP was described by The FADER as, “a concise exhibition of his minimalist swagger," with Pitchfork adding, "though Rarelyalways comes out of the London jazz scene, his music has its own distinct flavor."
Rarelyalways learned from a young age that music had functions beyond entertainment. Born in London to a West African family, he was raised by his single father, a drummer who played mainly gospel tunes during hours-long services and would bring Rarely along for afternoons in practice spaces where the young musician learned the power of playing for playing's sake. Rarelyalways went on to attend The BRIT School and eventually entered the South London gig circuit where he would play trip hop and heavy rock in the orbit of artists like King Krule, Henry Wu and the Tomorrow's Warriors jazz collective. With his music often taking on a dark, mysterious tone, Rarely is able to roam freely outside the prescribed structures of hip hop, jazz or anything else, by creating a conversational abstract style that can mold according to a song's message.