Yebba’s upcoming debut album is surely one of the most hotly anticipated releases in the neo-soul and R&B space.

In 2016, her raw, emotional performance of original song ‘My Mind’ at Sofar Sounds New York drew acclaim and went viral. Off the back of ‘My Mind’, the singer-songwriter duetted with Sam Smith on the song ‘No Peace’ from his sophomore album The Thrill of it All. In 2017, Yebba released her sublime debut single ‘Evergreen’ and has since collaborated with Mark Ronson, Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, and Robert Glasper. She won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Traditional R&B Performance’ in 2019 after featuring on PJ Morton’s cover of the Bee Gees’ ‘How Deep Is Your Love’.

Produced by herself and Mark Ronson, break-up ballad ‘Distance’ is the first single from her upcoming album. Yebba explains:

‘I had a vague intuition that this relationship was going to end. He was way too invested in the idea of me, and I was filling a void. Somewhere, we had departed into our daydreams, experiencing no real push & pull of desire for the people we were separately. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually, we were trying, but the only thing that came naturally was the distance.’

This cosmic, bossa nova-tinged ballad combines mood with melody. Like watching a gradual sunset, the piece is helmed by a sense of calm and balance. ‘Take me back to the distance / Late night cooking in my kitchen,’ Yebba sings wistfully. She explores the tension between romanticising the relationship and facing the reality that both parties need to move on. ‘I still get so lost in the feelin’ / And I can’t imagine losing you / Oh, if your heart could find a new reason / For someone special to hold onto / I wonder if I would do.’

Yebba’s vocals combine the earthy with the ethereal. She almost melts into the background with her soft, breathy tones, but adds an extra dose of excitement with her expressive, jazz-flecked melismas.

Image copyright: RCA Records