Kokoroko return with Sweetie, the radiant first taste of their upcoming album Tuff Times Never Last—and it’s a pure joy. Bubbling with Afro-jazz energy, the track is brass-heavy and gloriously funky, with tumbling percussion, fluid basslines, and playful jazz synths that nod to R&B and West African disco. It’s rich and winding, tying itself in intricate knots in a couple of places before loosening back into it’s freer, danceable groove.
At the heart of Sweetie is a striking melodic core, but it’s the conversation between trumpet, saxophone, and trombone that elevates it—interlocking, dancing, and riffing with each other as the song builds. A track that manages to be complex and carefree, structured and spontaneous, it’s a brilliant evolution for the London collective. With their second album dropping July 11 via the ever brilliant Brownswood imprint, and a major Brixton headline show this September, Kokoroko are firmly stepping into their next chapter—and Sweetie sets the tone beautifully.
Check it out, here
