In a world of constant change and chaos, sometimes all we need is a moment to pause and reflect. SBTRKT‘s upcoming third studio album, The Rat Road, is promising to offer just that. Seven years in the making, the album signifies a pivotal moment of evolution for the revered producer as he continues to follow his musical path, unencumbered by the perceptions of others. The announcement arrives with a new song, “Waiting,” featuring Texas rapper/singer-songwriter Teezo Touchdown.
A stripped-back and elegantly arranged masterpiece, “Waiting” is gracefully drenched in reverb and hypnagogic synths. Teezo Touchdown’s vocals are deftly woven between SBTRKT’s melancholic chords, rising towards a crescendo of phasing drum patterns and glistening keys. It’s a beautiful and hypnotic experience that will leave you wanting more. Listen below.
Discussing the new single, SBTRKT shared, “I’m always listening to and looking out for new music, and I came across a song of Teezo’s, “I’m just a fan,” on October 21. By serendipity, he was heading to London the next week, so we connected in person. In some ways—although personal to Teezo, too—it perfectly summed up everything I had been going through. It, therefore, felt like the most obvious song to then lead into my album with. Musically, it’s an expansion on my previous records, with a purposefully wider and more layered sound. All instruments on this song and the album were played, recorded, produced, and mixed by me.”
The Rat Road is a play on the concept of “the rat race,” an idea SBTRKT is all too familiar with. It’s a reflection on the challenges he has faced within the music industry and life in general, but it’s also a representation of a much broader feeling of exhaustion and hopelessness that many of us can relate to. Despite this, the artist shares there’s also a sense of determination and hope that runs throughout the album, making it a deeply cathartic and meaningful listening experience.
SBTRKT has always been a master collaborator, and The Rat Road will follow suit. The album features the previously released track, “FORWARD” ft. LEILAH, and promises much more to come. With each release, SBTRKT continues redefining the boundaries of what’s possible in music, skillfully combining elements from various genres to create groundbreaking tracks that exist on the fringes of popular music.
The Rat Road is set to be yet another daring chapter for this chameleonic artist, and I can’t wait to see where he takes us next. The album drops on May 5th, so mark your calendars and get ready for a sonic journey of self-reflection and exploration. Pre-save The Rat Road and stream “Waiting.”
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