DON LETTS
NEW SINGLE ‘NO FOOLING ME’ FEATURING HOLLIE COOK – LISTEN HERE
FROM HIS DEBUT ALBUM ‘OUTTA SYNC’ WHICH FOLLOWS MAY 26th
“A charming blend of reggae, dub and pop that lays out his philosophy and life story so far.” – The Times
In a storied career that dates back to the ‘70s, Don Letts has both led and documented the continuing evolution of British music culture. His rich vein of creativity continues with his latest development: a long-awaited but largely unexpected venture as a solo artist. The debut track ‘Outta Sync’ presented his philosophy and inspired editorial coverage from NME, The Times and Brooklyn Vegan. Don Letts now shares the follow-up ‘No Fooling Me’, featuring Hollie Cook and produced by Gaudi.
‘No Fooling Me’ sees Don mixing up a cocktail of island flavoured reggae grooves and hefty dub bass. It’s a mix that manages to lift the spirit whilst addressing more serious themes that tap into the zeitgeist of the times. Lovers rock queen Hollie Cook accentuates the uplifting vibe, as her beautiful topline organically intertwines with The Rebel Dread’s vocals. And extending the ethos that Don introduced on ‘Outta Sync’, ‘No Fooling Me’ reminds us of the power of standing up for yourself, but also of finding unity and common ground in an era of ever-conflicting viewpoints. As the lyrics say with simple elegance, “What’s good for you is good for me too.”
Don says, “To keep grounded I watch the news every single day and I’ve come to realise that if you play by their rules you’ll get the same results. Time to change tactics – it’s dread out there.”
Hollie adds, “For all of Don’s artistic contributions, it is a real pleasure to be a part of his first solo musical venture!”
‘No Fooling Me’, ‘Outta Sync’ and the recently released ‘Wrong’ will all feature on the 11-track album, which Don co-wrote with its producer Gaudi. Killing Joke bassist and acclaimed producer Youth also contributed a selection of song ideas to a set which also features highlights from the late, great Terry Hall of The Specials, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, and Don’s daughter Honor. It also includes a co-write from Zoe Devlin Love, previously of Alabama 3, on ‘Situationist’.
The result draws on a lifetime of experience, taking in Don’s black and British identity, varied influences from the culture that he has always been an intrinsic part of, and a sonic snapshot into where his head is at in 2023.
‘Outta Sync’ is available to pre-order or pre-save HERE. In addition to its digital and streaming formats, it will also be released on CD, standard black vinyl, and a limited edition green vinyl which is available from select independent stores and Don Letts’ official webstore. The webstore also offers an exclusive blue vinyl, signed formats and album bundles.