Shamir - Hope

Surprise! Shamir Bailey dropped a new album this week called Hope. It was recorded over a single weekend and you can stream it now on Soundcloud.

Electro-pop wonder-kid Shamir burst on the scene in 2015 with his glorious debut album Ratchet. The record spawned a few buzz-worthy singles and landed him an opening spot for Duran Duran. Two years later he is back with a record that totally shifts his focus from dizzying pop bangers to home spun indie-rock. It's a radical change that is sure to disenchant some fans, but it's a wild, welcome surprise and a daring risk that proves there is more to Shamir than his radio-ready vocals and groove inducing jams. Hope is a bold move, but a noteworthy one nonetheless. It showcases an artist exposing his true self with no cares for his reputation or what the pop world has come to expect from him. Even with these drastic changes, it's still refreshing to see an artist in their most vulnerable state and not be afraid to share these feelings with the world. Hope may not be the shimmering pop album his fans have yearned for over the past year, but in his most intimate setting, Shamir still shines bright.

Upon releasing the album, Shamir shared the following:

"I was gonna quit music this weekend. From day 1 it was clear i was an accidental pop star. I loved the idea of it, i mean who doesn't? Still the wear of staying polished with how im presented and how my music was presented took a huge toll on me mentally. I started to hate music, the thing i loved the most! When i would listen to immaculate recordings with my friends their praise over the quality of the art as opposed to the art itself made me feel really sad for music as a medium in general. My music only feels exciting for me if its in the moment, and thats what this album is. I made this album this past weekend stuck in my room with just a 4 track feeling hopeless about my love for music. ... I played, wrote, produced, and mixed everything and big thanks to Kieran Ferris for Mastering an album with an hours notice! its free! Enjoy! Love Yall! Still more 2 come!!!!!!!"