Yael Naim, the Parisian-born, Franco-Israeli singer-songwriter recently returned with the brand new single ‘How Will I Know’. It’s the first song to preview her fourth album ‘NightSongs’, which will be released on March 20th via Tôt ou tard and distributed by Believe.
Yael Naim first earned a global following with the upbeat piano-pop of her breakthrough track ‘New Soul’. Having been personally chosen by Steve Jobs to launch Apple’s Macbook Pro, the track made a huge impact with over 100 million streams to date.
Today, the release of ‘How Will I Know’ marks a subtle change of direction in the musician’s previous soulful, upbeat sound. It’s a more sombre, reflective approach in which the intimate production and Yael’s ethereal vocal combines to create a song rich with unadorned emotion. Think the sparse, glacial atmosphere of Agnes Obel with the singular vision of St. Vincent’s more laidback moments.
The song’s opening words capture the feeling of finally coming to terms with loss, yet realising that things won’t ever go back to what they were: “Years after you’ve gone I’m feeling fine and I fight to be strong / But when I’m laughing it’s not quite the same.”
“One thing I learnt during the process of making this record is that if you stop pretending that you are Superman, then people will tell you that they feel the same way as you.” says Yael.
The loss of Yael’s beloved father, Daniel, is of two themes that dominate the ‘NightSongs’ album – the other being the birth of her second child. These huge changes in her life inspired a new spell of self-discovery, which in turn changed how she approached songwriting. The songs – darker and deeper than before – were for the first time written, arranged and produced entirely independently. The result is the most remarkable, unguarded and absorbing album of her career.
Yael Naim released her self-titled album in 2007. She had recorded it over the course of two years with her husband and co-producer David Donatien in their flat in Paris’s Bastille district. The success of the single ‘New Soul’ provided the resources for them to invest in a professional studio. Her career continued to flourish, first with the album ‘She Was A Boy’ (2010) and then ‘Older’ (2015). She has since won multiple awards at the annual Victoires De La Musique ceremony – the French equivalent of The Brits – including Best Female Pop Singer in 2016.
Select material from ‘NightSongs’ was first previewed when Yael Naim performed at the Meltdown Festival last year, having been invited to play by curator and Chic legend Nile Rodgers.
Yael Naim will follow the release of ‘NightSongs’ with a European headline tour in April, followed by a New York show in May and select summer festivals.
The full list of live dates are:
APRIL
1st – UK, London, Hoxton Hall
2nd – Denmark, Copenhagen, Koncertkirken
3rd – Germany, Berlin, Silent Green
4th – Netherlands, Amsterdam, Tuinzaal (Paradiso)
15th / 16th / 17th – France, Paris, Bouffes du Nord
MAY
9th – USA, New York, National Sawdust
JUNE
4th – Turkey, Istanbul, Zorlu Pac Festival
6th – Germany, Hamburg, Elbjazz Festival
We managed to catch up with Yael for an interview about her upcoming album which you can check out below!
This is off the upcoming album NightSongs which was recently announced, would you say this is your best work yet?
I would say that this is the one that fits with what I am now….it’s hard to say if its my best work yet as each and every of my 4 albums was the best of what I could do when I did it.
What tracks should we look out for in the upcoming album?
I’m hoping there will be a few …..I would say Shine, She , The Sun …and more!!
If you could work with any artist or band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Thomas bartlette, I love his production and sensitivity as a musician…..and also Sufjan Stevens …I love the way he does things, his choices, his musical world , his arrangements , voice , songs ..I love and respect both of these musicians so it would be a dream to write with them.
So you recently announced a European headline tour also in April, what venue are you most looking forward to playing?
The most unusual ones! (I will play in a museum, on water etc..)….
You are also playing a couple of festivals too, do you prefer playing festivals or headline shows?
I like the balance between both ! The headline shows allow to build something very personal, on your own, to offer some kind of magical world to people. Sharing stages and crossing other artists and unexpected audiences during festivals is also fantastic; I’m quite lucky indeed!
Is there anything else planned for 2020?
Just more touring, writing and I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new album.