British-Nigerian artist Azu Yeché returns to 2024 with new single ‘Leave Me Now’, a poignant expression of accepting a relationship’s end. Following on from last year’s two-part EP, Soul Afrikanah (part one & part two) which was an exploration of his dual identity through folk and soul sounds, this latest track shows yet another side to this multifaceted artist. Never one to be pigeonholed, Yeché delves into the golden era of classic soul, with purposefully slow-paced percussion, serene acoustic strings, and a commanding yet relaxed vocal performance. Any listener will be struck by the emotional intensity of his words, “if your lovin’ is ruled by someone else, leave me now, oh leave me now, if your lovin’ ain’t as strong as mine, leave me now, oh leave me now.” The solitude of his voice amongst the spacious soundtrack mirrors the loneliness of being in an unrequited romantic relationship.
Listen to ‘Leave Me Now’ here:
Providing further context to the backstory of this single Azu Yeché shares, “I wrote ‘Leave Me Now’ from the viewpoint of being with someone who isn’t as sure about the relationship as you are. You would rather end things than continue with someone who is not all in.”
The intimate nature invites the listener into this emotional inner-world, where the songwriter seeks clarity and connection through music. Entirely self-written on the guitar, Yeché recorded the vocals in just one or two takes as capturing the raw feeling is pivotal to both the recording and listening experience. In the studio, he worked with Jim Lawton to finalise the subtle, warm production, one true to that beautiful soulful core.
As Yeché says, “It was a beautiful experience working with Jim Lawton on the production for this song and I believe we came up with a stripped back sound that is true to the soulful nature of the song but also some subtle modern touches. I’ve loved performing this song live and I’m so happy that it is finally being released.”
‘Leave Me Now’ is an essential listen for fans of Michael Kiwanuka, Lianne La Havas, Jordan Mackampa, or Leon Bridges. His sound, which traverses soul, gospel, and African influences has also garnered acclaim from BBC Radio 1, Earmilk, BBC 6 Music, Apple Music, and Fresh On The Net, among others. He also has highly coveted co-signs from platinum-selling UK music royalty, such as Gabrielle and Lemar.
Azu Yeché also has an upcoming London headline show at Dash The Henge, 14th June. Event details & tickets here.
Upcoming live dates:
13th June – The Victoria, Birmingham
14th June – Dash The Henge, London
28th June – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds