More about: Jordan Stephens

Perhaps wrongly written off as a bit cheesy at the time, Rizzle Kicks captured the charts and the hearts of British mums everywhere with their happy-go-lucky attitude, astute perceptions of the world around them and their sheer ambition to find joy in everything. The debut solo album of one half of the duo, Jordan Stephens, is a concoction of all the best parts of his previous work, only now with a sharpened maturity and razor-edge focus.

Opening track ‘Son of a Gun’ is a twirling exploration of self conceptualisation that’s boosted by the singer’s own unquestionable self-belief. Self-acceptance drives the track, and the album in its entirety, but the lingering ideas of how we can be — and do — better curb it from ever blistering into arrogance. Over beats that are as energetic and as effortless as his rhyming, Stephens demonstrates that the true benefit of unequivocal self-love is that it maximises your ability to love others well. ‘Wicked’ is similarly backed by this quiet confidence that oozes from each bar. The foreboding instrumentals that open the song are steeped in seriousness before quickly disintegrating around the line "My ADHD…is silly!". Stephens is skilled at squashing intensity with another sparkling rhythm that winks at the listener and entices them to take a moment to pause and laugh.

The ways in which joy pervades the album is what makes it brilliant. The inescapable, stripped-back delight of ‘Look No Further’ is light-hearted and sweet. That, coupled with the cool cheer of ‘Never Felt’ — which is evocative of Jurassic 5 and A Tribe Called Quest — feels like an incisive pep talk, encouraging you that, really, it’s not that deep, and everything will probably be fine. 

That isn’t to say there aren’t sincere moments in there. Backed by a throbbing heartbeat, ‘Shake!’ feels like an anxious spiral that twists itself into an empowering poetic reflection on life and death. ‘Star’ is another quieter track, whimsical and twinkling amongst the lively and spirited chaos. Even when considering darker topics, there’s a natural optimism that refuses to be crushed.

The second half of the album is where it elevates from the playful to the truly exciting. A collaboration with Lava La Rue spearheads this, before Stephens explores every avenue when it comes to beats and bass — ‘Loserz’ is a sleazy funk tune that stands sternly and seductively, whereas the flirtatious ‘On Your Tongue’ wouldn’t go amiss on Childish Gambino’s Kauai. The entire record’s production is skillfully inventive; every element is focused and purposeful. This makes for inspired listening: the songs seem to connect to the listener in a way that is entirely bodily. They were made to be danced to with no shame, restraints or lethargy, but fully immersive.

‘In My Blood,’ ‘Feel Joy’ and the latest single ‘Big Bad Mood’ are the highlights. The former is a summer anthem that gleams with resilience and radiates a casual certainty in your ability to rebuild after setbacks: the impenetrable good spirit of Stephens is infectious. ‘Feel Joy’ is slick in its production, and rightfully smug in its execution. ‘Big Bad Mood’ — with it’s satisfying beat and charming melt of Stephens’ and Miraa May’s voices — is irresistible. Every chorus swells each time it comes around, seemingly improving over and over again: you don’t want it to end. 

Let Me Die Inside You is a stellar album, by an artist whose creativity is seemingly boundless. It’s clear Stephens knows how to make a good song and here, they’re stacked up, one after the other. It’s soaked in sunlight and self-belief, and overall is a joyful piece of self-expression.

Let Me Die Inside You is out now.

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More about: Jordan Stephens