Colouring

Nottingham-based songwriter and producer Jack Kenworthy’s life was upended in February 2021, months before the release of his debut album Wake, when his brother-in-law Greg Baker was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. What followed was the most unbelievable year of a family’s togetherness when life seemed set on fracturing the life of a young man. Kenworthy found that the family’s journey together in the face of adversity was both brutal and beautiful.

Colouring has been a solo project since Wake, an album influenced by The Blue Nile alongside the 00s post-Britpop greats (early Coldplay, Elbow) but taking electronic and rhythmic cues from Radiohead and James Blake. Originally formed of four friends while Kenworthy was studying at Goldsmiths, the band came to a natural end in 2019. Thanks to a confidence boost in early 2020 when Kenworthy’s longtime collaborator Gianluca Buccellati (Arlo Parks) laughed off the idea of him folding the project, Kenworthy did what he usually does: write compulsively as a means of nourishment and escape.

Following first single Lune, Colouring has announced the release of new album Love To You, Mate, due out 23rd February via Bella Union. To accompany the announcement, Colouring has shared the album’s opening track For You.

Commenting on the track Jack Kenworthy says: ‘For You talks of a time that changed my family’s and my life forever, in learning the news of my brother-in-law’s cancer diagnosis. What followed was 11 months of uncertainty, togetherness and a celebration of shared love and friendship between a family. Made with my friends and long-time collaborators Gianluca Buccellati and Mikko Gordon, For You is the first chapter of my new record, Love To You, Mate’.

Support will come from Max Pope. Max Pope’s musical church has always been startlingly broad, counting funk, bossa nova, blues, jazz and rock and roll among his influences. After attending the prestigious BRIT School in 2013, Max released a slew of EPs and singles, as well as collaborations with Tom Misch, Badly Drawn Boy, and Conor Albert.