Following the release of ‘Child’ – part one of her two part album – West London’s acclaimed singer-songwriter Rukhsana Merrise (known to most as Rox) releases ‘Today’ – the title track to her new album and the second part of her two part album out May 10th via Communion Records. Listen to the single HERE.
The new music follows Rox’s recent performance alongside long-time friend and collaborator Ghetts at The Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, where they performed their track ‘Next Of Kin’.
Effortlessly fusing elements of both contemporary R&B and folk instrumentation, ‘Today’ sees Rox highlight the value of living in the present through her emotionally optimistic and effortless songwriting.
Part one ‘Child’ and part two ‘Today’ see Rox explore the contrasting factors that have developed her personality. The two parts are carefully divided into songs that represent their titles and the different stages in her life, with previously released part one Child exploring Rox’s youthful rebellious side. Combined, they present Child o Today.
Rukhsana has been steadily making waves across the UK with a healthy list of collaborators that includes Wretch 32 (Good Morning), Ghetts (Next Of Kin) and Kojey Radical (Die In Vain). She’s backed this up with a string of impressive live performances at Glastonbury, Citadel and Somersault, as well as supporting the likes of Rag’n’Bone Man, James Bay, Oh Wonder and Michael Kiwanuka.
After years of being a songwriter for hire, her own enlightenment came when putting together the ‘September Songs EP’. She’d set herself a target to make one song every week for a month and release it. It was during this time that she found her guitarist whilst watching a gig – and the pair began working together on the EP. A deal with Communion Records quickly followed on the strength of numbers such as the finger-picked ‘So They Say’, about forging the path you believe in, and ‘See You Again’, a more urgent track featuring earthy sliding guitar.
Reflective and self-aware, ‘Today’ is the perfect introduction to the identity of the forthcoming album, an LP that will only enhance Rukhsana’s already glowing reputation as one of the UK’s most hotly tipped newcomers.
