As the release of their debut album approaches KAWALA are getting the party started early with their new single ‘Hypnotized’ which premiered last night as Radio 1’s Hottest Record with Jack Saunders sitting in for Clara Amfo.
Built around a gentle acoustic riff and a snaking bassline, ‘Hypnotized’ feels like KAWALA at their absolute peak. The song builds slowly, drawing you in with its enthralling melodies and a stunning performance from both Jim and Daniel, before ending in a big festival-ready chorus set to come into its own this summer.
“Hypnotized is all about finding yourself in that situation you promised yourself you wouldn’t be in again” explain the band. “And realising it’s not what you actually want for the 100th time. It’s about traversing the world as if you haven’t got a choice.”
Containing a spectrum of thoughts, feelings and observations, the band’s debut album, ‘Better With You’, is driven by golden melodies, danceable afrobeat-inspired rhythms and immediate harmonies that create a truly encompassing atmosphere across its ten songs. The album follows a series of acclaimed EPs and live shows from the North London band over the last two years which has seen them establish a community focused fanbase across the country.
Fittingly, their debut album is a celebration of this communality, with a lyrical thread running through its songs charting the band’s growth as people and as artists. The record’s artwork helps reflect this, with the band having chosen to ask a number of individuals who have helped them along the way to paint or draw different panels that eventually formed the overall mosaic of the cover.
The album marks the culmination of years of work which has seen the band grow from humble begging’s to the world class act they are today. Along the way they have done everything from play socially distanced shows in UK parks (after the first easing of restrictions in 2020), appear on FIFA 2021, write and perform in their own YouTube sitcom (the mad-cap Paradise Heights) and become ambassadors for the Music Venue Trust. Each step on the journey has seen the band grow and expand on what KAWALA means to their community.
2022 INSTORE ACOUSTIC TOUR
Thurs 3rd March – Rough Trade – Bristol (6pm)
Fri 4th March – HMV – Liverpool (12.30pm)
Fri 4th March – HMV – March (5pm)
Sat 5th March – Crash Records – Leeds (1pm)
Sat 5th March – Beyond Vinyl – Newcastle (6pm)
Sun 6th March – Assai Records – Dundee (12pm)
Sun 6th March- Assai Records, Edinburgh (3pm)
Sun 6th March- Strip Joint, Glasgow (6pm)
Mon 7th March – HMV – Birmingham (12.30pm)
Mon 7th March – Rough Trade – Nottingham (6pm)
Tues 8th March – Rough Trade East – London (6pm)
Weds 9th March – Cult Hero – Brighton (midday)- SIGNING ONLY
Weds 9th March – Vinilo – Southampton (4pm)
Weds 9th March – Vinilo, Bournemouth (6pm)
Thurs 10th March – Banquet Records – Kingston (6pm)
2022 HEADLINE TOUR
Thurs 7 Apr – Stylus – Leeds
Fri 8 Apr – The Caves – Edinburgh
Sat 9 Apr – Saint Luke’s – Glasgow
Mon 11 Apr – O2 Institute – Birmingham
Tues 12 Apr – The Marble Factory – Bristol
Wed 13 Apr – O2 Ritz – Manchester
Fri 15 Apr – O2 Shepherds Bush – London
