We Speak Music
Binoy Returns With Spectacular New Single ‘POPular’

Binoy, the genre-defying artist hailing from Nairobi and now based in Los Angeles, returns with his latest single “POPular,” the first track from the deluxe edition of his debut album, The Great Alone. Fusing his African roots, South Asian heritage, and queer identity, Binoy crafts a piece of music that’s both deeply personal and universally resonant. The track is a celebration of individuality and authenticity, built on a foundation of vibrant beats and an infectious energy that mirrors the artist’s growth and journey of self-acceptance. “POPular” is more than just a song—it’s an anthem of empowerment, blending cultural influences into a sound that is both bold and dynamic.
The inspiration behind “POPular” runs deep. Binoy reflects on the struggle of feeling like an outsider in his younger years, always longing for acceptance. But as he’s matured, he’s learned to embrace his uniqueness and recognize that true belonging comes not from fitting in, but from celebrating one’s individuality. The song serves as a bridge between his past insecurities and his present confidence. As Binoy himself puts it, “POPular” is a celebration of the belief that “no artist sounds quite like me.” It’s an empowering message that feels timely in today’s world, where the embrace of difference is becoming a cornerstone of self-expression and creativity.
Musically, “POPular” is a testament to Binoy’s talent as a producer and multi-instrumentalist. The track pulsates with rhythmic intensity, blending the sounds of traditional Indian and African music with the infectious energy of queer dance beats. The result is a fusion that feels fresh, exhilarating, and deeply rooted in the artist’s rich cultural tapestry. The track is as fun as it is introspective, balancing the exuberant energy of the dance floor with moments of quiet reflection. In doing so, Binoy demonstrates a masterful ability to merge both lighthearted and weighty themes, all while keeping listeners hooked with a captivating melody.
As a member of the new wave of African artists making waves on the global stage, Binoy’s “POPular” is another example of his boundary-pushing creativity. The song is a fearless exploration of genre, culture, and identity, delivered through bold production and sharp, evocative lyrics. It speaks to the future of global music—a future where labels like genre or nationality are irrelevant, and authenticity reigns supreme. By continuously breaking boundaries with his sound, Binoy places himself firmly at the forefront of a musical revolution that values individuality above all else.
In “POPular,” Binoy offers a glimpse into the next chapter of his artistic journey, one that’s marked by confidence, authenticity, and unapologetic self-expression. As he reflects on his growth, the song stands as a powerful declaration of finding one’s place in the world and embracing who you are, flaws and all. Binoy’s message is clear: in a world that often demands conformity, it’s the brave who celebrate their differences that truly shine. “POPular” is not just a track—it’s a declaration of freedom, and it promises even greater things to come.
We Speak Music
Acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd to tour the UK for the first time this summer.
Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.
There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”
Stylistically, ‘Carnival’ draws on a range of influences from Laurel Canyon-era singer/songwriters, to Lilith Fair rockers, to confessional country/folk balladeers, to indie pop. The central theme of the record and that of its title track is not being too precious about any one experience or decision. Take them for what they are, live in the moment, and move on when they’re done. It acknowledges also that memory can be subjective, and ambiguous—was an experience ultimately a good thing or a bad thing? And whose memory can you rely on to determine the answer to that question?
‘Carnival’ doesn’t just deal with the complexities of ending relationships, it also deals with all the feelings that come with moving on. The album’snine songs feature evocative storytelling that reveals a simple truth: when the carnival inevitably leaves town, you’re left with an empty parking lot. And how you remember, it is a choice. As Juliet sings in the title track, “If only there was a way you could bottle up that feeling / and you’d drink it in / when the days are short and you long.”
Across her 20+ year career, Juliet has been admittedly stylistically non-monogamous. Her first full-length album, ‘All Dressed Up’, was released in 2005 and was heavily jazz-influenced- a label that she rejected at the time. “I am a piano player and a woman, so I was immediately compared to Norah Jones—and I bristled at that,” Juliet says. “Listening back now, I can totally see that it was true, and it of course wasn’t a bad thing.” Her follow-up release ‘Leave the Light On,’ came out two years later and featured a slick piano-pop production that led to five of its songs being placed on reality TV shows on MTV and VH1. Coming back after her 10-year break from writing and recording, Juliet released ‘High Road’, a collection of five Americana/soul-tinged songs produced by Jim Ebert (Meredith Brooks, Shai) that earned her widespread recognition and songwriting awards both in her home region of DC as well as nationally.
Now with her first ever UK tour scheduled for July 2025, Juliet has also dropped a completely brand-new single ‘Wild Again’, which like ‘Carnival’, was written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman). ‘Wild Again’, however, charts yet another new step in Juliet’s journey.
“Carnival’, is full of deeply personal songs that are drawn from my real-life experiences and relationships. Coming out of that album cycle, I was feeling a little exhausted by my own navel-gazing and I was craving inspiration elsewhere. So, a lot of the songs I’m writing now are an evolution of sorts – focused more on external stimuli and finding the personal stories and humanity in that. Wild Again is a perfect example of this,” she explains.
The idea for ‘Wild Again’ was born out of a NY Times podcast Juliet listened to about the real-life efforts to return the whale that played Willy in the iconic movie ‘Free Willy’ back into the wild.
“It’s an insane, heartbreaking story that asks all kinds of thorny questions about human responsibility and humility and what’s the “right” thing to do and is that the same as the “kind” thing to do. There was a line that one of the trainers said in the podcast, explaining that they were trying to “train him to be wild again.” The complete absurdity of that statement hit me in the moment, and I immediately started jotting down lyrical ideas”, Juliet says.
Catch Juliet Lloyd on her UK tour this July:
1st July: The Folklore Rooms / Brighton
2nd July: The Hyde Tavern / Winchester
3rd July: Hen and Chicken / Bristol (CRH Music promotions)
4th July: Artisan Tap Hartshill / Stoke-on-Trent
5th July: Waggon & Horses, Nottingham
6th July: Cafe#9 / Sheffield
7th July: Hyde Park Book Club / Leeds
10th July: FortyFive Vinyl Café / York
11th July: The Muddy Puddle / London
13th July: The Wrotham Arms / Broadstairs

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