Loyle Carner released his new album, ‘hopefully!’, last week which saw him take on a different, more melancholy direction with new vocal styles – but he has now revealed that the only reason Carner himself sang on the tracks was because Grian Chatten turned down the opportunity.
The London musician known for his flowing, poetic raps has seemed to “turn his focus to singing instead of rapping” on his fourth studio album, as noted by NME in their four-star review.
However, the plan was not always for Carner himself to sing on the record. On an appearance on YouTube series Chicken Shop Date, he told host Amelia Dimoldenbrg about how he had Fontaines DC frontman, Grian Chatten, in mind to feature.
These were the plans until Chatten seemingly ghosted Carner, leaving the London rapper to showcase his own singing capabilities. He told Dimoldenburg: “There were a few songs that I really wanted someone to sing on.
“We [Carner and Chatten] were talking for ages and then as soon as I talked about him being on one of my tunes, he just stopped replying. It’s kind of thanks to him that I’m singing on the album.”
Carner is gearing up to headline the Other Stage at Glastonbury next weekend, after previously headlining the West Holts Stage in 2023 to rave reviews.
He kicked off the BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury last night (June 23) when he appeared on CBeebies Bedtime Stories reading I Touched the Sun by Leah Hayes. Mike Skinner and The Last Dinner Party’s Abigail Morris will also read on Bedtime Stories in the build-up to Glasto’.
@cbeebies Loyle Carner prepares for his Glastonbury headline performance with a brand new Bedtime Story. He reads his son’s favourite book ‘I Touched the Sun‘ by Leah Hayes. Mon 23 June at 6:50pm on CBeebies and iPlayer. More brand new stories this weekend from Worthy Farm! #CBeebies #CBeebiesBedtimeStories #LoyleCarner #BedtimeStory ♬ original sound – CBeebies Parenting
Speaking of his excitement in appearing on the acclaimed children’s show, Carner said: “Let’s go! I’ve practised for this every night in my son’s room. Reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story is just a magical thing to do. I know this story inside out – it’s my favourite book, and my son’s and my daughter’s. We read it almost every night.”
Fans will be looking forward to hearing Carner’s new album live for the first time at Worthy Farm on the weekend.
In a four-star review, NME said about ‘hopefully!’: “This isn’t just Loyle Carner at his most refined, it is the start of a new chapter. As for what may come next, the answer is probably best explained in the lyrics to ‘Time To Go’: “Who am I supposed to be today? I don’t know / All I can do is take it slow.””
‘Hopefully!’ is available to stream now, or purchase from your local record store.
Following his Glastonbury headline set, Carner will head on a UK tour in November, kicking things off with four dates at London’s 02 Academy Brixton before heading to Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and finally Manchester. Find any remaining tickets here.
