South London-based saxophonist and producer Venna has teamed up with MIKE and Marco Bernardis to release ‘Day x2’, the third single from his upcoming debut album, ‘MALIK’.
Over a spacey, jazzy hip-hop beat, Venna delivers some smooth vocals, followed by an contemplative verse from MIKE. Marco Bernardis added some extra instrumentation on the track, providing sax, synth and guitar. Production was handled by Venna, agajon and Bernardis.
In a press release, Venna spoke of the songs meaning and his collaborators: “Day x2 is a record based around just letting each day flow and allowing yourself to be open to lessons. Life can be challenging at times and sometimes it can be hard to allow ourselves to just be pillars of love but it’s important to learn from things and move on with love in our hearts. I made the record with agajon (producer), Marco Bernardis & MIKE. All 3 are people I respect highly and are artists I’ve made music with already.“
He also spoke of his soon to be released debut album, ‘MALIK’, set to be released on September 5th. The 17-track project will feature a cast of collaborators including Jorja Smith, CARI, Leon Thomas, Smino, MIKE and musicians such as Rocco Palladino, Elijah Fox, AoD, J Warner, and frequent collaborator Yuseef Davies.
“Every experience, every memory, every conversation, anything new, any encounter has influenced how this album sounds. I might like a particular guitar tone from it, and then I bring it into my world. Everything has come and conjured into one place, and it’s beautiful to also hear and see,”
‘MALIK’ my debut self titled album will be released on the 5th September ‘25 .
A very special record that I’ve been blessed enough to work on with some of my favourite musicians and artists.
26 years in the making.
MALIK – 05/09/25 pic.twitter.com/9fcR5dVNd7
— venna (@vennaldn) May 12, 2025
“The album MALIK was named by my mother 26 years before the album was made. A strong name that means King or leader in Arabic. A name that I’ve lived with all my life. A name that my nearest and dearest have called me & a name that I learnt to become. Throughout the whole process of the album – I’ve had another name that I loved but I felt like I wasn’t living in my undeniable truth & what better way to live in one’s truth than naming their debut album the name that their mother named them.”
Venna has had a decorated career as a musician and producer. Many will know him for his work alongside Knucks, who has enlisted him to help on several tracks, including as an executive producer on Knuck’s highly praised album ‘Alpha Place’. In 2020, he won a Grammy Award for his contributions to Burna Boy’s ‘Twice As Tall’ album and has also featured on tracks with Beyonce and Wizkid.
Venna has UK tour dates schedule in Autumn, performing in Bristol, Manchester and London. Tickets and details can be found here.
