Whilst speaking backstage at East London’s ‘All Points East’ Festival, Kayne explained her recent track is part of a new project, saying: “This next project is about my experience in London, and in this industry as well, ‘Rat Race’ is about my perception on London and how everything is so fast, and you’ve got to keep up. It delves into that. It’s a bit of a brain-fart that one, but I love it.” Kayne was conflicted about whether she wanted to release the track publicly, adding, “It’s definitely a diary entry tune, and it’s wicked that people love that stuff. I didn’t really think that was going to come out when I first wrote it, so it’s rewarding.”

@willowkayne Rat Race, out 22nd August. Pre save link in bio #JustJack #fyp #newmusic ♬ Rat Race – Willow Kayne

The genre-blurring pop provocateur picked up the Rising Star Award at the Ivor Novello Awards back in 2021. This award allowed her the opportunity to work and receive mentorship from ‘Chic’ icon and legend, Nile Rodgers. Kayne explained that the experience taught her that there’s no, “crazy, tactical formula to making a banger. There’s no real ‘this is what you have to do to make a banger’. It’s just going with it, which was very lucky to hear actually, it released a lot of stress.”  Nile Rodgers has called Kayne a “genuine star in the making.”

Willow released another single in July this year named,”White City”. She described the inspiration for this tune on her instagram, stating, “I wrote this song as a diary entry about London last year. It’s crazy to see history/communities being knocked down and replaced with these gigantic skyscrapers that nobody can afford to live in. Having the two extremes of wealth and poverty right on the same street, not just in White City but everywhere here it seems. “Everyone in the place is seeing a different sunshine” I always think it when I walk down the street in my area, we all have such different perceptions of this place as our home, different views of the same exact place”

Kayne’s genre-fused style has developed from her early upbringing and the eclectic taste of music both her parents had. In an interview Kayne said, “I used to think I wanted to be a pop star, but I’ve realised that’s kind of limiting. If I can change the direction that pop can be, then that’s what success sounds like to me to be honest.”

Willow’s up and coming tour dates:

Sign up: https://t.co/GUS2yimCTM. Tickets go on pre-sale Thursday at 10am. pic.twitter.com/tynH8T7llX

— Mike Skinner (@mikeskinnerltd) January 24, 2022

Writing on Instagram last summer, concerning the cancellations for the shows, Skinner said, “It is with a very heavy heart that I have to say that we have decided to cancel all live performances for 2022, It is not fair to keep taking your money for tickets knowing that with 1 case of COVID, the whole thing has to stop.” He added, “I’m really sorry to disappoint you. This has been the worst week of the worst year of my life.” But in exchange for this disappointing news, we were able to hear a new collaboration between The Streets and UK rapper Master Peace “Wrong Answers Only”. The track is the 2^nd of a series of tracks released recently after “Who’s Got the Bag (21^st June)” hit the outside world last March. You can hear the new track below.

Skinner also released a new album last year with one of his side projects, The Darker the Brighter the Light, titled The Streets. Some assume that the album is set to become the soundtrack for a movie that Skinner might be directing in the future. Regarding the movie, Skinner commented to the BBC, “The film has definitely got things in common with ‘Quadrophenia’. Also, in a weird way, kind of Tommy as well, because in my film it’s a musical but the songs are the voiceover. Tommy has got a bit of that, although it’s not surreal like Tommy.”

 See below the remaining dates for The Streets ongoing tour, the Birmingham dates have already passed. But you may be able to bag the last few tickets to the remaining shows if you’re lucky. Check here for more details.

24/01/22 O2 Academy- Bristol
25/01 Rock City- Nottingham
27/01 O2 Academy- Brixton
28/01 O2 Academy- Brixton
31/01 O2 Academy- Leeds
01/02 O2 Academy- Glasgow
03/02 O2 City Hall- Newcastle
04/02 O2 Victoria Warehouse- Manchester
05/02 University Mountford Hall- Liverpool
28/07-31/07 Lowther Deer Park- Hackthorpe