British jazz rising star Emma-Jean Thackray is releasing her second full-length album Weirdo on 25 April and has this week shared the second single from it, “It’s Okay”, which finds her linking up with fellow jazz innovator Kassa Overall. Of the new track, Thackray says:
“This is a lullaby for everyone that needs some soothing – a hug or a pat on the shoulder. It’s been quite difficult for me to engage with the trumpet as much recently, so there isn’t a lot of brass on the album. The moments where there is brass is where I’m really digging into my feelings, so the trumpet solo in the bridge is quite revealing. Kassa is a fellow weirdo and totally delivered the message. The message to all the listeners is that no matter what happens “it’s okay”; or maybe it’s a message to myself.”
In tumultuous times like the ones we’re living through, sometimes all you need is someone to tell you “It’s okay” – and Thackray and Overall are here to do that in some style on this track. While Thackray and her band lay out smooth cosmic keys, warm backing vocals, oozing bass and dextrous drums, Overall delivers a slick rapped verse about finding peace in the chaos – “everything is love but you gotta feel it”. It’s then time to be carried off by trumpets to another plane – one where worries fade away and melodies ensure that your mood is always equanimous. Thackray and Overall’s voices swoop across each other telling you “don’t worry about a thing” and “come fly with us”; a couple of actions that feel infinitely possible while listening to this track.
Listen to “It’s Okay” below or find it on your preferred streamer.
Emma-Jean Thackray’s new album Weirdo is out on 25 April through Brownswood Recordings / Parlophone (pre-order/save). You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Live dates:
April 25th – London – Stranger Than Paradise Records*
April 26th – Kingston – Banquet Records*
April 27th – Southampton – Vinilo*
April 29th – Nottingham – Rough Trade*
April 30th – Liverpool – The Jacaranda*
May 1st – Leeds – Headrow House via Crash Records*
May 9th – Manchester, YES
May 13th – Bristol Rough Trade
May 14th – London Hoxton Hall – SOLD OUT
*solo in-store live performance
