New Music Friday: Hiromi, Grecia Albán and More
Each week, Babylon Radio brings you a handpicked selection of five songs, spotlighting standout tracks from new and upcoming albums, overlooked gems, and fresh singles. Expect a wide range of sounds from around the world and across genres, with a special focus on unique artistry and multicultural collaborations.
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Out There (Telarc)
Release date: April 3
Japanese-born pianist and composer Hiromi pushes her genre-defying vision even further on Out There, her 13th studio album and second with her Sonicwonder quartet. Released on Telarc, the new record captures the fearless energy of a group honed through nearly two years of touring, featuring Hiromi alongside bassist Hadrien Feraud, drummer Gene Coye, and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. Fusing jazz-rock, funk, classical virtuosity, and cinematic flair, Out There is anchored by a four-part suite and highlights like the Miles Davis-inspired “Balloon Pop” and the genre-hopping “Yes! Ramen!!”
Grecia Albán, Nubes Selva (Folkalist)
Release date: June 13
Ecuadorian singer-songwriter Grecia Albán reimagines tradition on Nubes Selva, out June 13, blending ancestral rhythms with contemporary textures to create a rich, multi-layered sound bridging past and present. Inspired by her roots in the Ecuadorian jungle and the peaks of Cotopaxi, the album draws on folkloric styles like Peruvian festejo, Colombian mapalé, and Uruguayan candombe, interwoven with jazz, American folk, and electronic elements. The result is a powerful celebration of Latin American identity and a reflection on how tradition transforms through evolution, as testified by the lead single “Virgen y Volcán,” which you can listen to via the player below.
Leandra Ramm, Watching glass, I hear you (Ablaze)
Release date: February 28
Watching glass, I hear you is the new album from American mezzo-soprano Leandra Ramm, acclaimed for her work in opera and musical theatre. Deeply personal and emotionally rich, the album brings together compositions inspired by female-penned poetry and intimate narratives, exploring the multifaceted nature of femininity. Created in close collaboration with composers Lisa Bielawa, Douglas Knehans, David T. Little, Cyril Deaconoff, and Daron Hagen during the height of the pandemic, the project highlights Ramm’s exceptional vocal range and dramatic depth.
Footshooter, The Oasis (First Word)
Release date: April 11
Out now via First Word Records, The Oasis marks the latest album from South London producer and DJ Footshooter (a.k.a. Barney Whittaker), blending jazz, broken beat, and soulful collaborations into a vibrant sonic sanctuary. Featuring artists like Andre Espeut, Allysha Joy, Natty Wylah, and Ezra Collective’s James Mollison, The Oasis explores themes of refuge, creativity, and connection. Channeling Footshooter’s dynamic, community-driven ethos, the new album is an invitation to find stillness and abundance in the chaos with its blend of richly textured production and lyrical introspection.
Apollo5, Anam: Music to Move the Soul (VOCES8)
Release date: January 24
London-based vocal ensemble Apollo5 marks their 15th anniversary with Anam: Music to Move the Soul, an album rooted in the Celtic tradition. Blending Irish and Scottish folk songs, pagan texts, Robert Burns poems, and original compositions, the release offers a rich tapestry of sound and story. Reflecting on the project, Apollo5 founder and artistic director Clare Stewart shared in a press release: “I grew up with Celtic music, Scots poetry and folk music collected by Burns and from around the British Isles and Ireland. […] We are from a group of islands which has unique and peculiar traditions, and ways of handing down poetry, song and folk tales.”
