- 2025-07-31
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MUSIC
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UMI Announces New Album “people stories”, Shares Two New Songs “SOMEWHERE NEW” & “WHAT NOW”
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter UMI has announced their upcoming sophomore album “people stories” will be released on August 22, 2025.
The album is their first LP in three years since the 2022 album “Forest in the City”. Also it is first release under their new label Epic Records.
The album was recorded primary in their home studio and explores the universal threads that connect us all through stories of ego, identity, healing, and human connection.
From the album, UMI released two new songs “SOMEWHERE NEW” and “WHAT NOW” on July 25, 2025.
Both songs follow “10AM” and “HARD TRUTHS” with 6LACK.
“SOMEWHERE NEW” was written by UMI and Veronica Vera. “WHAT NOW” was written by Brandon Benjamin, UMI, and Veronica Vera. Both songs were produced by V-Ron.
Two accompanying music videos were directed by Eric Nguyen.- UMI said, “This release is very close to my heart. The stories I tell & the musical world I experiment with are very expansive. I hope they feel as universal and raw to u as they do to me.”
They said of “WHAT NOW”, “This song is about being thrown into the complete unknown out of no where. Perhaps a marriage ends, you get fired, life takes an unusual turn and your left with the question what now???? These are the moments we often feel closest to God / The universe - because all you can do is surrender to something greater than you.” -
The new album comprises 15 tracks, featuring collaboration with American R&B singe-songwriter 6LACK, produced by HARV, Mr Hudson and V-Ron.
UMI said of the album, “I wanted to be the storyteller, the vessel to express everyone's stories. We all live very similar lives, same colors, slightly different hues. I find that to be very comforting. While writing this album, I found myself in every story I was expressing. I was reminded of how colorful the human experience is. For me, learning to accept even the darkest colors of life was deeply healing and possible through relating to others.”
They continued, “This album has taught me that my worth is not in perfection. When I turn people's stories into songs, it pulls me out of myself in a good way.”
They added, “Each song on this album was inspired by a story told by my fans and friends. Collected over the course of 2 years through discord, live streams & tour. “people stories” was born from my belief that a lot of our loneliness comes from keeping our stories to ourselves. Inspired by the power of folk tale & rewriting our childhood - this albums sonic world is Folk, 2000's pop and R&B.”
Photo by Eric Nguyen - source : Apple Music
