Rising pop and soul sensation JERUB has released his stunning new EP Carry The Load via independent label Elevate Music. The new EP follows on from his critically acclaimed EP Finding My Feet which yielded the hit single There Till The End. Speaking on the latest release, JERUB said: “Carry The Load EP is a collection of songs that encapsulate my feelings and experiences from the past year. Each season of the year has brought new themes, and this EP reflects that journey. From the universal pressures and weight of being human, to the tensions of moving and being away from home, to learning about risk and vulnerability, this EP is guided by empathy for myself and others.”
JERUB
The EP begins with a heartfelt message from JERUB’s father, a moment that was shared with those who attended his recent tour across the UK and Europe in April. “It was such a highlight sharing his voice that I had to include it on the EP. My hope is that everyone who listens can see a bit of their own story in mine” he says.
The opening track is the beautifully soulful and catchy Carry The Load. The EPs title track is an honest admittance of the pressures that weigh us down. It deals with the feeling of acknowledging the heaviness and recognising the importance of reaching out. The second track on the EP is Gonna Be Okay. The song, co-written and co-produced with Troy Miller (Rag ‘n’ Bone Man), was released as a single back in April and perfectly showcases JERUB’s warm, soaring vocals.
Listen to title track Carry The Load below and the whole EP here:
Third track Hometown is about the people who make a place special. The song is a lovely anecdote to JERUB’s upbringing. Having been born in Nigeria and raised in Nottingham, Hometown captures the struggle of dreaming for more while not wanting to say goodbye to everything and everyone you know.
Continuing with the themes of vulnerability and honesty, You And I is another heartfelt ode to JERUB’s upbringing. Reflecting on his journey to open up and embrace love with open arms. Feel Alive is about having the bravery to take risks. “I’m not a natural dreamer,” says JERUB. “I’m often overly realistic. I think some of that is a defence mechanism, a way to avoid being hurt or disappointed. The track is something of a euphoric admittance to this, a plea with himself to risk hurt and disappointment in order to truly feel.
The final track on the EP is bonus demo Soon. It was written whilst JERUB was travelling, the juxtaposition of doing what you love while feeling guilty for being away from a relationship. “Usually, I tweak parts of a song and maybe re-record some bits, but with Soon, we wrote and recorded a demo on the same day, and it felt so special that I didn’t want to change anything.” A beautiful song and a fitting end to a glorious EP.
Born in Nigeria and raised in Nottingham from the age of 10, JERUB is one of the UK’s most promising new talents. Perfectly blending irresistible pop sounds with his soulful vocals, he is truly a voice to treasure. Sharing a musical vulnerability similar to Lewis Capaldi, Rachel Chinouriri, Tom Grennan and Ed Sheeran, his lyrics come straight from the heart. Pain, love and hope all theme JERUB’s lyrics. His undeniable ability to effortlessly blend his relatable and revelatory songwriting with alluring and chart-ready production is what has put JERUB firmly en route to mainstream megastardom.
A live setting is where JERUB really comes alive, leaving crowds around the world in utter awe with his emotive performances. Earlier this year, he took to the stage at this year’s Comic Relief on BBC 1 for a very special rendition of Sam Cooke classic A Change Is Gonna Come.
The performances at his sold out UK headline tour in April were very well received, with one journalist describing a show as “nothing short of captivating.” The tour also saw him play European dates in Düsseldorf, Utrecht and Paris. JERUB also opened the King’s Coronation Concert, duetting with Vula and Pete Tong live on BBC 1, as well as performing his single There Till The End on last year’s Children In Need and this year’s BBC D-Day 80th Anniversary concert in June.
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