Ezra Collective announce new album, share single featuring ‘Yazmin Lacey’: Listen
Ezra Collective have announced their third studio album, and unveiled ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing,’ featuring acclaimed London singer Yazmin Lacey.
The second single from ‘Dance, No One’s Watching’, set for release on 27th September via Partisan Records, showcases a fusion of jazz, funk and soul that saw the London trailblazers scoop the 2023 Mercury Prize for their second full-length ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’.
Directed by Tajana Tokyo, known for her work with Beyoncé and Janelle Monae, the accompanying music video for ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ mirrors the song’s celebration of movement and the joy of dance. Watch it below.
Speaking about how the power of dance influenced their new single, drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso said: “Myself, Ife, and TJ all grew up in church, and it played a massive role in how we view the purpose of dancing. Dancing is bigger than just the club space. Dancing is a community thing, dancing is a spiritual thing, and ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ is like a window into that element of Ezra Collective for the five of us.”
Koleoso continued: “There’s a story in the Bible that talks about ‘David dancing before the Lord’, and that’s always been something that has inspired me. So, ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ is meant to look at dancing in a more spiritual capacity, like it’s our God-given ability to shake away the badness of life and dance instead.”
The release of the track comes two months after Ezra Collective shared ‘Ajala‘. Doubling as their first single of 2024, the track incorporated elements of Afrobeat and Highlife with jazz.
Following their sold-out residency at the British Library’s Beyond the London quintet are set to make history as the first UK jazz act to headline London’s OVO Arena Wembley on 15th November. Their meteoric rise includes accolades like Best Jazz Act at the MOBO Awards and standout performances at Glastonbury and Quincy Jones’ birthday celebration.
Pre-orders for ‘Dance, No One’s Watching’ are available now via Partisan.
