British singer-songwriter Nao has released her fourth album, Jupiter, via Sony Music UK/RCA Records.
While it’s technically a follow-up to Nao’s 2021 album, And Then Life Was Beautiful, it’s also a sequel to 2018’s Saturn.
“Jupiter is the sister album to Saturn,” Nao reveals. “Where Saturn was about tough lessons and growth, Jupiter is about coming through the other side. It’s an album of hope, joy, and trust, of embracing expansion after struggle, of letting go and stepping into something greater. This music is a reflection of that freedom, a soundtrack for the moment when you realize the universe was always working in your favor.”
Jupiter includes the previously shared tracks “Wildflowers,” “Elevate,” “Happy People” “All of Me” and “Light Years.”
Among the album’s new tracks is the light and airy “Poolside,” which floats between bliss and bedroom temptation. “I like what you do / Yeah, you do it good / Come play in my poolside babe,” Nao sings in the irresistible chorus.
Speaking on “Poolside,” Nao told Apple Music, “This is supposed to be pure joy. Just pure fun. It’s probably the most pop-sounding record I’ve ever done. I studied jazz for four years and the culture of that was anti anything commercial, so I think I carried that with me for quite a long time. But I love commercial music.”
She continued, “When I started ‘Poolside,’ it wasn’t my intention for it to come out that way, but it did, and I made peace with it and I was like, ‘This is kind of fire, actually.’ So in the spirit of Jupiter and joy, ‘Poolside’ made it on the record because that’s what I feel it brings.”
On the contemplative “30 Something,” Nao reflects on her 20s while making peace with where she is now: “‘Cause I’ve been holding on to s–t that don’t belong to / Who I am as a 30 something / And the story I’m in always bring me right back to / Places that I’ve gone to, even though I don’t want to / All I really know is I’m 30 something / And I’ve had my first kid and I’m starting to see it’s / All good.”
As noted above, Jupiter follows Nao’s 2021 album, And Then Life Was Beautiful.
The latter project featured Lucky Daye, serpentwithfeet, Lianne La Havas, and Adekunle Gold.
On Tuesday (Feb. 25), Nao kicked off the U.K./Europe leg of her headlining tour in Amsterdam. She has upcoming stops in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Manchester, and more before concluding March 12 at O2 Academy in Brixton.
The North American leg begins April 17 at Tabernacle in Atlanta. From there, Nao will visit Brooklyn, Boston, Toronto, Seattle, and more before wrapping up May 7 at The Novo in Los Angeles.
Stream Nao’s new album Jupiter below.
