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Today, Norwegian alternative R&B-soul singer-songwriter Beharie announces his fervent debut album Are You There, Boy? due out October 20 and available for pre-order now. Alongside the announcement, Beharie shares romantic, groovy love song "Deadly" out everywhere now. Plus, join Beharie here to find exclusive updates about the album, teasers, tour dates and more. With a warm, irresistible melody, the latest track "Deadly" sees Beharie apprehensively surrender to an all-encompassing crush and take a leap into love.
The forthcoming bright, wistful album Are You There, Boy? meets Beharie where he is today and invites listeners into a brand new, carefully curated sonic world. Through vibrant melodies and delicate, smooth vocals, the artist explores nuanced themes of love, self-doubt, desire, longing and pain with his heart on his sleeve. Over 12 tracks, the project follows a multi-faceted character who seeks meaningful connections, follows his curiosity where it takes him, and ultimately discovers more of himself. Delving into the album's story and its main character, Beharie says, "This album conveys stories of a complex character. He is confident, emotional, insecure, curious, loving, and looking for connections. He is searching for both someone and himself. Longing for true connections with the world and with himself. He is confident, playful and daring, but also insecure and not always fully present."
The album features collaborations by two rising singer-songwriters -- Uly based in Dublin and Judy Blank based in The Netherlands. It was mastered by Guy Davie (Michael Kiwanuka) at Electric Mastering in London, UK.
"Deadly," out today, captures the early stages of a new love, from the fear, to the curiosity, to the sweeping excitement. Gearing up to take a leap into love, Beharie says the tender tune is, "about falling in love and feeling obsessed with a person. It’s kind of scary, but also really intriguing. It came out of nowhere, and now you are ready and willing to really jump into it."
Today's release follows "Oh My God," the hooky, spirited track that blooms as it unfolds through Beharie's signature heartfelt vocals. Sonically, it illustrates a fiery love that is unstable, energetic and worth chasing. Beharie explains, "It conveys the chaos love brings, when it’s unsettled, shaky and intense. The track has sort of a feel-good 'awakening' tone to it. It captures the energy of this movement, but it has undertones of frustration and desperation, and longing."
In February, Beharie shared the forthcoming collection's first offering, with the dreamy, old-school, "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" The warm, wistful track picks up in the early stages of falling in love and explores the uncertainties that come with meeting someone new. Beharie says, "It’s in the starting phase of falling in love with someone, without knowing if the other person likes you back. It conveys the insecurities that expose themselves at the beginning of meeting someone."
With three EPs shared since 2019, Beharie has consistently expanded his sound, artistry and message and refined his focus toward what's to come. In 2019, Beharie shared his self-titled first EP, and in 2021, his second EP, Beharie // Beharie, earned the singer-songwriter a Norwegian Grammy Award or Spellemann Award. It also earned the attention of the Swedish Gaffa Awards who named him the “International Newcomer of The Year”. The EP also won him Wonderland praised the EP, writing, “It might be too early to crown the EP of the year just yet, but this is certainly one of our best contenders."
Despite being based in Europe, American tastemakers have been captivated by his compelling vocals and touching lyricism. PopMatters said about "Don't Wanna Know," which appeared on the aforementioned EP, "This is sophisticated, jazz-inflected alternative soul in the realm of Jordan Rakei, Tom Misch, and Michael Kiwanuka. The music is warm and inviting, carefully layered and constructed, and oozing a soulful dreaminess." EUPHORIA. wrote "Worry," also on the project, is "special" and continued, "in true Beharie fashion, it doesn’t fit into one box. It’s a bit soul, a bit folk, a bit R&B, and simply Beharie, which is what makes it a song you keep coming back to. It’s also what makes us ever-so-curious to hear what he does next."
Atwood Magazine added, "Beharie’s music soars with sweet harmonies and mesmerizing melodies that caress the ears and stir the heart. His powerful lyrics and emotionally-fueled vocal performance makes every minute of his new EP one worth cherishing..." and wrote, "The EP "leaves an instant, lasting impression." In 2022, Beharie joined GRAMMY winner soulful R&B star Leon Bridges on tour and released his third EP, Beharie, The Third, which produced "Simple Mistake" a track that Ones To Watch called "delicious" and "idyllic," adding, "Beharie is here to soothe the soul...['Simple Mistake'] is coated in syrupy honey-toned vocals, hypnotic harmonies, and groove-inducing melodies."
Now, with a highly anticipated full-length debut album on the horizon, Beharie is ready to bring listeners into his evolving sonic world like never before. Using his own inner fire to fuel the music that pours out of him, the poignant singer-songwriter aims to only make this fire brighter and bigger, to welcome more into his signature warmth. Most recently, Beharie performed live across Europe and in London, UK, with select shows supporting Nicklas Sahl, and had support from Judy Blank.
Fall in love with Beharie's "Deadly" out everywhere now. The highly anticipated, dreamy debut album Are You There, Boy? by Beharie is due out October 20 and available for pre-order now. Join Beharie here to get exclusive updates about the album, tour and more, and sign up on the exclusive mailing list here to be the first to access all things Beharie. Connect with the rising soulful singer-songwriter on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube with merch available now.
Listen: "Oh My God"
Listen: "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?"
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