LEO BHANJI UNVEILS FIRST NEW PROJECT IN THREE YEARS, SHELL
RELEASES VIDEO FOR ‘DANCE W U’
London based singer, songwriter and producer Leo Bhanji has been a hidden gem in Dirty Hit (The 1975/Wolf Alice/Beabadoobee)’s roster since 2020 with the release of his No Guard EP; a mix of intimate contemporary songwriting with rap flourishes and experimental electronics weaved seamlessly. His Arm’s Length EP a year later stripped away the layers even more, playing with space to experiment with how emotion is perceived within music. Spending those three years digging deeper into his own sound and expression, today sees the culmination of all those years’ work with the release of a new EP, Shell, and with it, a re-emergence of a prodigious artist and songwriter, ready to invite the world in once again.
In the three years since Leo Bhanji released his last project, he has refined his sonic tapestry with laser focus – every single sound on his forthcoming Shell EP has a direct intention, if it doesn’t add anything, it has been removed. The result is a daringly open six track masterpiece that draws every emotion from the listener’s body. Mastering the art of using his own voice as texture, Leo’s own vocal on the project is stunningly intimate, while simultaneously harnessing the gravity of those situations that’s usually typically felt rather than heard.
EP standout ‘Dance W U’ is a beautiful example of Bhanji’s skeletal approach to projecting his emotions. The project’s shortest track at 1 minute 7 seconds, the song’s main elements – an air-like textual synth and the occasional bass hit – open the floor for Bhanji to spill his own words out, as if he’s rushing to get them out before they leave his mind. It’s a work that although brief, feels unflinchingly honest and undeniably real – activating the all-too-familiar feeling of professing one’s own emotions in the heat of the moment.
With Shell, Leo Bhanji returns with a renewed potency and focus. His time away, quietly crafting this brand new project has resulted in an introspective, sensitive release that feels genuinely innovative in its simplicity while demanding time for those listening to peel back all its inner layers. With Shell, Leo Bhanji once again steps out from behind the curtain to prove himself as one of the UK’s most gorgeously understated songwriters, and with it, release a project that feels somewhat experimental, but no less instant and warm.
Leo Bhanji
Shell
(Dirty Hit)
Released 29th November 2024
- 27
- Hazel & Deadnettle
- Book 1
- Dance W U
- Lung
- The Invisibles