Toronto, ON – July 30, 2021 – Yola released her anthemic album, Stand For Myself, via Easy Eye Sound today. It has been hailed as a sonic shift, by publications including The New York Times who stated, “Stand for Myself draws from the same Americana soundbook as Yola’s first record, but it’s also shot through with disco and pop.” Rolling Stone Magazine described it as “an album that reflects her musical journey, with songs that nod to various styles of R&B and dance music.” Slate praised her new music as “absolutely remarkable” and Entertainment Weekly claimed “her vocals recall the poise and grandeur of music's greatest vintage pop singers, from Dusty Springfield to Shirley Bassey.”
 
SPIN added to the plethora of praise stating, “what can be heard throughout Stand For Myself, is that through introspection and self-actualization Yola’s returning home to who she was all along.” W Magazine declared the album “a dopamine-inducing blend of gravelly country patina and pop polish that showcases Yola’s vocal prowess without sacrificing her message for commercial salience” and Esquire Magazine and Billboard included Diamond Studded Shoes in the best songs of 2021.

 

 

Yola recently announced Starlight, a celebration of Yola’s anthemic new record, Stand For Myself, with a performance of the entire album, taped in front of a live audience during this year’s Newport Folk-On event. It will also broadcast across multiple time zones on Wednesday, August 4-5 via Moment House. For more information please visit here.
 
Stand For Myself reflects on Yola’s belief in the possibility of paradigm shift beyond the mental programming that creates tokenism and bigotry, which have deeply impacted her personal life and professional career. Produced by Dan Auerbach, the album traces a musical thread to Yola’s most eclectic musical inspirations. From the seminal albums Yola discovered via her mother’s 70s record collection, to her love of eclectic British radio, which featured a fluid mix of rock, 90s neo soul, R&B and britpop—all which soundtracked her childhood and teenage years in Bristol, England. Some songs began in the twilight hours of Yola’s pandemic isolation, reflecting on her personal and our collective moments of longing and awakening. Other songs germinated years ago and were inspired by personal moments, including Break The Bough, which Yola started to write following her mother’s funeral. Tracks were also co-written with Dan Auerbach, Ruby Amanfu, John Bettis, Pat McLaughlin, Natalie Hemby, Joy Oladokun, Paul Overstreet, Liz Rose, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Hannah V and Bobby Wood. Recorded during the fall of 2020 with a rhythm section that includes bassist Nick Movshon, noted for his work with Amy Winehouse to Bruno Mars, alongside drummer and rising solo artist, Aaron Frazer. 
 
Yola recently performed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The in-studio performance was taped live at the Ed Sullivan Theatre and included Oscar winning Late Show music director and bandleader Jon Batiste on piano. It will be re-broadcast on August 2 and available to watch now here. Yola became one of the few artists to perform at both Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals in the same year. Yola performed at Newport Folk last weekend and will appear this weekend at Newport Jazz. She will also perform at Summerfest and dates with Chris Stapleton on his rescheduled tour in 2021, including Madison Square Garden on October 8 and two nights at Bridgestone Arena on Oct 22-23. For more information and tickets please visit www.iamyola.com
 
Tracklist:
1. Barely Alive  
2. Dancing Away In Tears 
3. Diamond Studded Shoes  
4. Be My Friend 
5. Great Divide  
6. Starlight  
7. If I Had To Do It All Again  
8. Now You’re Here  
9. Whatever You Want  
10. Break The Bough  
11. Like A Photograph
12. Stand For Myself 
 
TOUR DATES:
 
2021
July 30 - August 1 - Newport Jazz Festival
August 4-5 - Moment House album release show
August 6 - Hinterland Music Festival
August 7 - DTE Energy Music Theatre. Clarkston, MI - w/ Chris Stapleton
August 21 - Globe Life Park. Arlington, TX - w/ Chris Stapleton
August 22 - Outlaw Music Festival - Austin360 Amphitheater 
September 3 - Summerfest 
September 4 - Jazz Aspen Snowmass
September 10 - Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival 
September 11 - Moon River Festival
September 12 - Sing Out Loud Festival 
September 16 - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Maryland Height, MO - w/ Chris Stapleton
September 17 - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Birmingham, AL - w/ Chris Stapleton
September 18 - The Wharf Amphitheatre. Orange Beach, AL - w/ Chris Stapleton
September 24 - Doheny State Beach - Dana Point, CA
September 25 - Ruoff Music Center. Noblesville, IN - w/ Chris Stapleton
September 26 - Ohana Music Festival 
October 8 - Madison Square Garden. NYC, NY - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 14  - Mizzou Arena. Columbia, MO - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 15 - Pinnacle Bank Arena. Lincoln, NE - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 16 - Denny Sanford Premier Center. Sioux Falls, SD - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 21 - Riverbend Music Center. Cincinnati, OH - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 22 & 23 - Bridgestone Arena. Nashville, TN - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 28 - United Supermarket Arena. Lubbock, TX - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 29 - Isleta Amphitheater. Albuquerque, NM - w/ Chris Stapleton
October 30 - AK-Chin Pavilion. Phoenix, AZ - w/ Chris Stapleton
November 4  - Frank Erwin Center. Austin, TX - w/ Chris Stapleton
November 5 - BOK Center. Tulsa, OK - w/ Chris Stapleton
November 6 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Woodlands, TX - w/ Chris Stapleton
November 24 - Bristol, Eng - Rough Trade
December 3 - FedEx Forum. Memphis, TN - w/ Chris Stapleton
December 4 - Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Biloxi, MS - w/ Chris Stapleton
December 5 - Thompson-Boling Arena. Knoxville, TN - w/ Chris Stapleton 
 
2022
February 1-5 - Girls Just Wanna Weekend 
March 3 - Ryman Auditorium. Nashville, TN 
April 20 - Huntington Center. Toledo, OH - w/ Chris Stapleton
April 21 - Schottenstein Center. Columbus, OH - w/ Chris Stapleton
April 23 - A Concert for Kentucky – Kroger Field. Lexington, KY - w/ Chris Stapleton

 

Listen to Stand For Myself here.

DOWNLOAD – Hi Res Album Art | DOWNLOAD – Press Photo

www.iamyola.com