Kokoroko Drops Soulful New Single “Closer To Me” Ahead of Upcoming Album

Summary

• Kokoroko released “Closer To Me,” a new single from their upcoming Tuff Times Never Last album
• The track blends hip-hop rhythms with funk and neo-soul
• The album is set to release on July 11, 2025

London-based jazz collective Kokoroko has unveiled their latest single, “Closer To Me,” offering a fresh glimpse into their upcoming album, Tuff Times Never Last.

Produced by Miles James, the track blends hip-hop-inspired rhythms with avant-garde funk and neo-soul elements, evoking the spirit of the Soulquarians era. With its laid-back groove and sensuous lyricism, “Closer To Me” builds on the themes of intimacy and longing, following in the footsteps of their previous single, “Sweetie,” but with a more earnest and direct approach. The song’s hypnotic refrain – “When you call me baby / Baby make me lose control / Do I like it maybe / Sweet my mind and sweet my soul” – reinforces its romantic and emotive core.

“You can feel like especially as musicians, you don’t want to write about love because everyone’s writing about love. But then sometimes that’s actually, that’s all I want to write about. So why not lean into it?” Co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey shared. Meanwhile, fellow co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth described “Closer To Me” as a “Hip-Hop record at its core,” elaborating that despite not having any actual rapping on it, “the drums, the sampling and the feeling of it is very Hip-Hop.”

Set to appear on Tuff Times Never Last, which releases on July 11, “Closer To Me” continues Kokoroko’s exploration of genre fusion, weaving together Afrobeat, jazz, R&B and funk influences.

“Closer To Me” is now available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.