Well. Joss Stone is lucky she managed her ‘Total World Tour’ (ending with an abrupt deportation from Iran) prior to this global pandemic. A few months ago, the 33 year-old British soul singer announced via Instagram that she is expecting her first child – some delightful news in this largely bleak climate.

‘Walk With Me’, released last week (11/12), is Stone’s first solo single since 2017’s ‘Oceans’.

“The song started out as a romantic song asking someone to walk through life with you, kind of like a wedding song if you will,” says Stone in a press release. However, the song gradually evolved into a socio-political statement. “When we got to working on it so much had happened that I couldn’t take my mind off. With the pandemic and what happened with George Floyd that unfortunately sparked so much violence it got me thinking that the problem is mostly with the us and them attitude. That is the biggest killer – separation and judgement. Everyone needs to come together in order to survive this life in peace. Without togetherness nothing is OK“.

The tune borrows from the generic conventions of gospel music, with creamy backing from the Legato Vocal Ensemble. Though Stone gives her vocal some welly, the tune is rife with platitudes.

(Image copyright: S-Curve Records/BMG)