Kendra Morris — the Brooklyn singer-songwriter and visual artist whose new album, I Am What I’m Waiting For, will be out August 25 on Karma Chief Records — releases new single “When I Go To Space.”
On “When I Go To Space,” harmonies emerge discordantly from an atmosphere of acoustic piano, bells, and synths, rough-hewn vocals rising steadily to a fever pitch. In one hand, “When I Go To Space” holds an eccentric exploration of the tireless chase after dreams that exist just out of reach, and in the other, unlikely arrangements that betray both an extensive record collection and a whimsical instinct for interesting sounds.
Produced by new collaborator Torbitt Schwartz aka Little Shalimar (Run The Jewels), I Am What I’m Waiting For is not only a sophisticated and joyful sonic reinvention, but an unfiltered expression of Morris’s idiosyncratic worldview that luxuriates in the little details. Swearing off love songs, the record dives into the little angles and quirks and sounds that she’d long been itching to explore — a trek through her fears of flying, the mundane conflicts of domesticity and cohabitation, motherhood, and a valiant attempt to expand the birthday song canon.
Featuring Morris’s towering voice over 11 shimmering songs bursting with dusty funk, R&B, and touches of indie rock, it’s a rare record that doubles as self-portrait, unvarnished yet thrilling because of its imperfections.
Interview Magazine has called Morris a “modern day Janis Joplin,” NPR praised her “lush, moody mix of neo-soul” and she’s worked with a wide array of collaborators, including DJ Premier, MF Doom, Ghostface Killah, and David Sitek. After her debut tenure with Wax Poetics’ record label, she recently locked into a revived, prolific groove: she signed to Colemine’s Karma Chief Records and released Nine Lives last year, deemed “beautifully sung” by MOJO.
Morris is touring throughout 2023 with her band, across the US and internationally, including a hometown release show at Union Pool in Brooklyn on September 23. See below for the full itinerary.
TRACK LIST:
When I Go To Space
Anywhere
What Are You Waiting For
Dominoes
The Door
All Your Jokes
Special
Still Spinning
Nightsnake
Birthday Song
One Last Joyride
TOUR DATES:
9/6/23 – The Lyric Theater – Blacksburg, VA
9/7/23 – Black Iris – Richmond, VA
9/8/23 – Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC
9/9/23 – Otis Fest – Macon, GA
9/10/23 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC
9/13/23 – Pour House Music Hall – Raleigh, NC
9/14/23 – The Southern – Charlottesville, VA
9/23/23 – Union Pool – Brooklyn, NY
10/3/13 – Het Depot – Leuven, BE
10/4/23 – Le Pop Up – Paris, FR
10/5/23 – Jazz Sur Son 31 – Toulouse, FR
10/6/23 – Gorila – Zaragoza, ES
10/7/23 – Loco Club – Valencia, ES
10/8/23 – Intruso – Madrid, ES
10/9/23 – Sala Upload – Barcelona, ES
10/10/23 – Iboat – Bordeaux, FR
10/12/23 – La Sirene – La Rochelle, FR
10/13/23 – Paul B – Massy, FR
10/14/23 – Le Forum – Charleville Meziere, FR
10/17/23 – Le Poche – Bethune, FR
10/18/23 – Blues Kitchen – Manchester, UK
10/19/23 – The Forge – London, UK
10/22/23 – De Oostepoort – Groningen, LA*
11/3/23 – 7th St. Entry – Minneapolis, MN
11/4/23 – xBk Live – Des Moines, IA
11/5/23 – Hideout – Chicago, IL
11/6/23 – Beachland Tavern – Cleveland, OH
12/8/23 – Tellus 360 – Lancaster, PA
12/10/23 – DC9 – Washington, DC
12/14/23 – Motr – Cincinnati, OH
12/15/23 – Square Cat Vinyl – Indianapolis, IN
*supporting Lee Fields
