Released: May 6
Emeli Sandé takes a musical journey through the styles that soundtracked her life on her latest album ‘Let’s Say For Instance’.
The singer-songwriter’s first album of new material in three years marks a sonic shift for the hitmaker, who shot to the top of the charts with her 2012 debut ‘Our Version of Events’ – a record that went on to become one of the best-selling releases of the ‘10s.
After a decade on stage and on the airwaves, Emeli showcases her versatility as she navigates shades of classical, disco and nostalgic R&B for a wide-ranging collection that defies expectations and allows the superstar to experiment like never before.
Kicking off with the double-hit of singles Family and Look What You’ve Done (with Jaykae), ‘Let’s Say For Instance’ instantly sets itself apart from the musician’s previous work, leaning into a more pop-oriented sound than her previous soul records.
The album is split into three sections: following a brief, two-track introduction comes the first of two piano interludes – named July 25th and September 8th – which appear to pinpoint key moments in the creative process and document a shift in the themes and tones of the LP.
Consisting of four songs, the earlier chapter represents a largely slower portion of the album, with rousing mid tempo numbers over slick beats, oozing life with her powerhouse vocals front and centre. As a vocalist, Emeli has an impressive belt, but across this project her restraint allows the music to shine through and, when used, is done with maximum effect.
The July 25th section comes to a head with There Isn’t Much, a mid tempo number that hints towards a change in pace and leads into the second interlude, which makes way for a revived Emeli on the dancefloor oriented Look in Your Eyes – an instant highlight from the LP.
Across the remaining tracks, such as the euphoric Ready For Love and gospel sing along moment Brighter Days, she is energised and equipped with a new outlook that radiates through the music and her vocals.
Upon first listen, the sequencing of the album is curious – particularly the inclusion of the interludes which, although pleasant, add little to the set overall. But it soon becomes apparent that the running order is one big metaphor for the project itself, which is a warm and optimistic anthem for growth, and a testament to Emeli’s creative vision. In her words, it is “an ode to resilience, rebirth, and renewal”.
With so many styles and genres in the melting pot, it’s inevitable that some are more prevalent than others, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t left craving a little more disco. Although there’s no particular track we’d switch in its place – perhaps we’re just greedy…
‘Let’s Say For Instance’ shifts effortlessly between genres while remaining faithful to Emeli as an artist – who, it soon becomes clear, can turn her hand to practically anything. The album’s not even out yet, but we already can’t wait to see what she goes and does next!
‘Let’s Say For Instance’ is available now.
