COL3TRANE drops stunning new EP ‘Hamartia’
“Equal parts Frank Ocean and D’Angelo” – VICE
“His introspective lyrics are delivered with impressive flow” – GQ
“Col3trane is striving to deliver something complex and unexpected, and he’s having fun doing it” – CLASH
One of the hottest R&B exports in the UK right now, North London-born talent Col3trane delivers intimate reflections across his new EP Hamartia – dropping on November 22nd via his own label Trane Of Thought.
With Hamartia, the highly acclaimed artist, producer and vocalist shares some of his most vulnerable self-expression to date; amid a tapestry of sleek, tender R&B and his own new-wave flavours, his intricate lyrics explore the balance and adversity of ‘hamartia’. The unyielding journey and manifestation toward something real, where experiences of love and heartbreak, intoxicating influences past and present, flaws within our connections, and the self-awareness to grow can blossom from darkness into light. A richer, more multi-layered sound, the EP’s arc holds a deeply poignant yet magnetic edge, with Col3trane’s vivid storytelling elevating the powerful sonic and visual universe that surrounds him.
Across five tracks that navigate his personal odyssey and offer anthemic melodies raw with emotion and honesty, the opener “Memory Game” emerges with a stripped-back atmosphere; dark, tender guitar notes setting pace for the 25-year-old artist as he reminisces about intimate moments with someone he’d like to forget - “Oh I don’t remember anything, but if I did, I think that I would love you” he preaches.
Quickly backed by “Crocodile Tears”, the North Londoner taps Atlanta superstar Chase Shakur for a heavyweight collaboration. The two trade stunning vocal performances with typical finesse, detailing the confusion and wasted luxuries of a fading love that intensifies the deeper they plead.
Manoeuvring through hazy, nocturnal influences and the chaos of intimacy on “Where Have You Been All My Life”, we reach the apex of Col3trane’s smooth, introspective artistry as the assertive “Karma” transcends into the euphoric “Closer”. Closing out the EP with incendiary slow jams, Col3trane’s shadowed confidence encapsulates the complexities of love and vulnerability - a mantra for deeper connections that veers affirmations dizzily towards hope and wonder.
Col3trane adds: “’Hamartia’ is fundamentally about the tragedy woven into a character's journey, so I wanted to create songs that capture darkness and drama while telling compelling stories. I’m committed to experimenting with new sounds, but I want to maintain that narrative depth throughout my music."
Born to American and Egyptian parents in North London, Col3trane’s artistry is a product of his ever-evolving creative environment. A kaleidoscope of cross-cultural inspirations through music, fashion and community has allowed him to explore and establish his creative blueprint. Producing, recording and writing records in his bedroom, make-shift studio sessions developed into national arena performances and soon shaped a true music success story in the making.
With nearly 275M streams to his name, alongside an impressive catalogue of tracks with Kehlani, Lucky Daye, RAYE, Chad Hugo (The Neptunes), Flatbush Zombies, FJK, GoldLink and Mahalia among others, Col3trane has cultivated a serious following since his official inception in 2017 across SG Lewis’ “Smart Aleck Kill”.
Delivering his highly acclaimed mixtape Tsarina at just 18-years-old, the young talent showcased his striking visual identity with incendiary music videos for “Language” and “Penelope” directed by Felix Brown (Unknown T, Loyle Carner, Yeat) and Nicole Nodland (personal photographer of Prince) respectively.
Following a key support slot across Dua Lipa’s ‘IDGAF’ Tour, breakout status was secured as his vivid storytelling and musicality began to absorb into global fashion spaces. Covering the 50th issue of ARENA HOMME +, appearances across V MAGAZINE’s infamous campaign with Moncler x Palm Angels and further tastemaker love across i-D, HIGHSNOBIETY and CRACK has solidified Col3trane’s presence as a multifaceted creative force deep-rooted into UK fashion and street culture.
With Hamartia finally at our fingertips, Col3trane’s unrestrained and impactful self-expression continues to bridge the gap between UK and US culture. A rare and significant talent offering diversity thrillingly beyond his years, 2024 looks set to solidify his place as one of the finest homegrown creative talents.
HAMARTIA EP
TRACK LIST
“Memory Game”
“Crocodile Tears” ft. Chase Shakur
“Where Have You Been All My Life?”
“Karma”
“Closer”