Nitin Sawhney has today revealed details of his brand-new album Identity, out 13 October via Warner Music. The first single from the album Darling Boy, featuring Guy Garvey is available to listen to now. Speaking about the new single, Nitin says:
‘Working on Darling Boy with Guy Garvey was a lot of fun. He is definitely one of my favourite singers and a lovely bloke. As I’m making an album about identity, it seemed like a great idea to get him to sing and write about his unbridled joy at being a new dad. As April 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of my own father’s passing, this track felt really poignant as the first single from the forthcoming album. I’ve never heard Guy’s voice like this and it’s pure gold to hear him create these stunning harmonies. It was also wonderful going to India to lay down the interweaving lines. I loved making this track’.
In addition to Nitin’s upcoming show at Wigmore Hall in July which sold out in 24 hours, Nitin has also announced a headline gig at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London on 20 October. Tickets are on sale from 10am on 26 May here with a pre-sale from 10am on 25 May here. Early access to the pre-sale can be secured by pre-ordering Identity from Nitin’s website.
Nitin’s Royal Albert Hall gig is the centrepiece of the venue’s Journeys Festival. The festival, which celebrates diverse journeys and identity through music, art and discussion, is curated by Nitin himself, and debuted in 2021 as part of the Hall’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Nitin first performed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2001 and since then he has headlined the BBC Proms, commissioned for the venue’s organ, and a done a special 2019 show marking 20 years of his groundbreaking album, Beyond Skin.
Nitin’s new album Identity is the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2021 album Immigrants which received great support at press ‘A seductive and persuasive look at the lives and human struggles those in power would rather you ignored and disdained. Get connected’ The Wire. Speaking about the new album, Nitin says:
‘The world is littered with opinions of people trying to tell us who we are. People get so vociferous in pushing their judgement and definitions of others that they often forget our common humanity. We’re all human. We all matter… and, as long as you’re not harming anyone else, the only opinion that counts in defining who you are is your own. Identity, the album, is a love letter to who we all are’.
Since the release of the Mercury Prize nominated Beyond Skin in 1999, Nitin has successfully navigated a career in the arts that can only be described as polymathic. Amongst many awards, Nitin holds six honorary doctorates, two fellowships, an honorary degree, the 2017 Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award and a CBE. As a composer Nitin is a BAFTA and Academy member and he is the Chair of Trustees for the PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development.
