Ezra Collective announces fourth studio album 'Here Because of Hope'

London-born jazz band Erza Collective shares details on upcoming album and new music release. Read more below.

Date published: 29th May 2026

2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective have come through as they have announced their fourth studio album, 'Here Because of Hope'. Making history for being one of the first jazz acts to take home the award, Ezra Collective has been a standout act, bringing their passion for music and elevating it with both their sound and collabs. 

Set to be released on Friday 18th September 2026 via Partisan Records, 'Here Because of Hope' will be their first album since their 2024 full-length, 'Dance, No One’s Watching'. Alongside the announcement, Ezra Collective have shared a small preview of the upcoming album, with 'Only Love' featuring British-Gambian rapper Pa Salieu. 

Sharing insight about the making of the album, Bandleader Femi Koleoso mentioned how the album was conceived after the band considered the many "Black genres where the story is painful." "And we came up with hope. It's the hope that one day this pain will change and take me to that place. So we’re going to write in anticipation of that place."

Also talking about the collaboration with Pa Salieu, Koleoso shared, "We linked up with Pa in Wood Green and immediately his stories started to flow, he came with a bunch of lyrics that he had from a really hard time he went through, but in those lyrics were so many stories of pain but also beauty, joy and love, and we were trying to find that beautiful place in the middle of those two things, and that's how we came about this song." 

Ahead of their album release, Ezra Collective are looking busy this summer. Find out more about their events, tickets, and more here on Skiddle.

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Header image credit: Ezra Collective / Facebook.com