KOKOROKO announce second studio album, Tuff Times Never Last

"Sweetie" marks KOKOROKO’s first dose of new music since their EP, Get The Message, and their forthcoming full-length follows 2022 debut album, Could We Be More.

Speaking on the band’s progression in sound, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “Innately, we’re jazz musicians but we've tried not to kind of box ourselves into one sound. So there is a level of freedom we're starting to feel. We want to continue being as creative as possible without feeling any boundaries”.

To coincide with the release of Tuff Times Never Last, KOKOROKO will be embarking on the biggest
headline show of their career when they play London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 25 September.

Initially drawing inspiration from a viral social media meme, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said of the title’s origins and meaning: “It’s true! Although we’re reflecting on joy and celebration, you realize that a lot of that beauty comes out of challenges and difficulties. It felt like a natural truth that we discovered whilst writing.”

The artwork’s imagery and colour was inspired by feelings of innocence and nostalgia - coming of age in London and those rare summer nights where everything felt full of hope. The cityscape also pays homage to Spike Lee’s 1994 film, Crookyln, and also Rick Famuyiwa’s 1999 opus, The Wood’ The band saw these movies as heartwarming representations of black family, community and resilience that served as a balm for them as Londoners. Speaking further on this, Edgeworth adds: “‘Crooklyn’ is very emotional, but also very uplifting. It felt like how I grew up. This album is us sharing our own feelings, hopes and dreams. We didn’t always have those stories in the UK”