Shortly after announcing his forthcoming debut solo album, (self-titled), Marcus Mumford has shared the project’s first single, “Cannibal,” alongside the album’s tracklist and cover art. The project, which is out September 16 via Capitol Records, is now available for pre-order.
The album was produced by Blake Mills and will feature contributions from Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, and Monica Martin. Martin is featured on the aforementioned first single, which is also accompanied by a music video.
“In January 2021, facing demons I danced with for a long time in isolation, I wrote a song called ‘Cannibal,’” reads Mumford’s note. “I took it to my friend Blake Mills, and we began the process of making the album, dear to my heart, called (self-titled).”
Mumford has been quiet over the past few years, but in 2020 he released a special acoustic version of his Major Lazer collaboration “Lay Your Head On Me.” He also released a performance video, which was filmed at London’s Eastcote Studios.
Mumford teamed up with the electronic trio unexpectedly, which was co-written with MØ. The track, which was Mumford’s first solo credit on a song as a featured artist, came about after Mumford struck up a friendship with Major Lazer’s Diplo.
It followed on from Mumford’s charity cover of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” which sought to benefit the Grenfell Foundation and War Child UK. In an Instagram Live video, Mumford explained of the song: “It felt like we could get something out in the world that would benefit both of those organizations.”
One of the featured artists on Mumford’s forthcoming album, Clairo, has been more active of late. Clairo’s 2022 tour dates have be in support of her latest album Sling, which was released in July 2021. The star worked with producer Jack Antonoff on the record, crafting a piece of work that recalled classic 70s singer-songwriters and Laurel Canyon folk, and explored her feelings around domesticity and identity.
