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Leon Bridges Announces New Album Happiness Anytime, Releases Four-Song EP: Stream
Leon Bridges has announced his new album, Happiness Anytime, due for release on 25th September via Columbia Records, alongside a preview EP featuring four of its tracks. The record marks a notable creative shift, as the Grammy-winning singer enlisted J Lloyd-Watson and Lydia Kitto of British neo-soul trio Jungle to produce it, following the pair's first meeting at music festivals.
Half of the twelve-track album emerged from an intensive four-day writing session with the Jungle duo, before Bridges completed the record at Chaplin Recording Studio in Los Angeles with bassist Pino Palladino, known for his work with D'Angelo, Adele and John Mayer. The preview EP includes "Light the Way," "Tears of Joy," "Illusion" and "Your Love Is Electric," which draw on influences ranging from Fela Kuti to Paul Simon and Bobby McFerrin. It follows Bridges' 2024 album Leon, with the artist saying he wants the new record to bring lightness and lasting resonance to listeners.
In short
- Leon Bridges announces album Happiness Anytime, out 25th September.
- Produced with Jungle's J Lloyd-Watson and Lydia Kitto.
- Four-song preview EP released; bassist Pino Palladino also featured.
Explained simply
Leon Bridges is an American soul singer-songwriter whose warm vocals and introspective compositions have earned him Grammy awards and widespread critical recognition. He has built a reputation for emotionally sincere music during a period when soul music remains an important cultural form.
He is working with two members of Jungle, a British group known for blending soul, funk and electronic influences. This partnership represents a deliberate artistic evolution, bringing producers and collaborators who operate in a different musical space from his previous work.
The album has been shaped by Jungle's producers alongside bassist Pino Palladino, whose previous work includes contributions to albums by D'Angelo, Adele and John Mayer. This combination of influences suggests the music will draw from diverse strands of soul, funk and world music traditions.
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