Kenny Beats Announces Debut Solo Album 'LOUIE'

We're smack dab in the middle of the age of the 'shadow drop' (presciently predicted by Aotearoa's Eyeliner), where globally successful artists will release significant musical projects without the faintest hint prior to surprise launch. US superstar producer for the likes of Vince Staples, IDLES, Rico Nasty and Denzel Curry, Kenny Beats isn't having none of that, giving fans the courtesy of just under a week's notice between today's announcement of his debut solo album LOUIE and the record's release next Wednesday via XL Recordings.

Sparked by the news Kenny Beats' father (and namesake) Kenneth Blume II had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, LOUIE originated while the producer was isolating in the UK, lovingly crafted as a gift from son to father — " a heart-on-sleeve appreciation for his dad’s sacrifices and willingness to nurture his son’s talent, created over the course of the month of December 2020." Initially only intended to be heard by family and friends, the seventeen track collection will be unveiled to the public in full with no advance singles on 31st August. Described as "a hypnotic odyssey of wounded, teardrop soul," digital pre-orders / pre-saves for LOUIE are available HERE. Scope out the full tracklist below...

“I always said that I wouldn’t do a solo album because I didn’t have anything to say. Finally, I did... Something dark turned into something beautiful. This album encapsulated the feeling of that one month." — Kenny Beats

UPDATE: LOUIE is out now — listen here...

LOUIE tracklist:

1. Leonard
2. Parenthesis
3. Hold My Head
4. So They Say
5. Family Tree
6. Hooper
7. Still
8. Moire
9. Get Around
10. Eternal
11. Last Words
12. Drop 10
13. The Perch
14. Really Really
15. That Third Thing
16. Rotten
17. Hot Hand

'LOUIE' is out now via XL Recordings — vinyl and compact disc orders available HERE.