It’s been awhile since Yuna last released any new music, so you can imagine our excitement when we caught wind of her brand new single and the release date of her upcoming album.
As Yuna gears up for the release of her new LP “Chapters”, the Malaysian singer-songwriter returns to the music scene with her first single titled “Places to Go”. On her new song, our homegrown darling collaborated with living legend DJ Premier to produce a perfect marriage of hip-hop and indie soul.
For those unfamiliar with DJ Premier, he was one half of influential hip-hop duo, Gang Starr. The hit-maker’s collaboratives includes D’Angelo, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, and you can now add Yuna to that impressive list of artistes.
While the track “Places to Go” stays true to the singer’s hopeful and introspective lyrics, her melodic textured vocals are complemented by Premier’s “trademark vintage boom-bap beats which gives them an almost new and refreshing sound”, says 2 Dope Boyz.
It has been a delight to see Yuna receive so much love and achieve international stardom in recent years. But being away from home has left the Malaysian indie-pop singer longing to be elsewhere while wondering what’s the weather like in other parts of the world on “Places to Go”. Feeling a little homesick, Yuna?
In an interview with The Fader via email, Yuna said that the single is “about when you’re growing into the person that you’re meant to be. Sometimes you go through all these things that will change you as a person and you find it hard to deal with all of these challenges“.
Giving a nod to Malaysia, she sings, “What’s the weather like this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur?/ This time of the year it’s so beautiful/ I just need a place to call home“. The feeling of desolation and exasperation of her current circumstances comes across seamlessly, making it very relatable to the listeners.
Press play on Yuna’s new single below:
As previously reported, to date, Yuna has released 4 Malaysian albums, namely “Yuna” (2008), “Decorate” (2010), “Terukir di Bintang” (2012), and “Material” (2015). She has also released 4 US albums namely “Decorate” (2011), “Yuna” (2012), “Sixth Street” (2013), and “Nocturnal” (2013).
Her new album “Chapters” drops on 20th May 2016. “Chapters” is also available for pre-order here.
Sources: The Fader, 2 Dope Boyz, Stereo Gum, Bandwagon Asia.
