After a three-year break, the extraordinary Karima Francis returns June 4th with stunning new single ‘Wherever I Go’, new LP ‘The Remedy’ - out August 6th on Mercury - and an eagerly anticipated spring UK tour.
The follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut ‘The Author’, this second album is a personal landmark for the Blackpool born singer-songwriter; upfront, personal, narrative-rich, and pulled along by a refined musicality. Characteristically, she doesn’t shy away from discussing the eating disorder that took her away from music.
Karima is forthright in stressing that ‘The Remedy’ represents not just recovery, but renewal - because the album is a document about her return to what she knows, and loves, best: music, singing, lyrics that burrow beneath the skin and lodge in the heart, melodies that are equally impossible to dislodge.
Flood, whom she first met in 2010 at a Water Rats show, was a key player in bringing the album to life. 'I went into my bedroom,' she says, 'and demo’d the whole record there. And I gave those demos to Flood and he was like, ‘Right, let’s make that - just bigger and better.’
She elucidates the process. 'We recorded it with just me, Simon (Robbs - longtime guitarist) and a drummer, and it just set the songs free. Recording the album felt like you imagine the old days must have been. It all happened so naturally.'
Karima’s first album on Mercury, ‘The Remedy’ was produced by Flood (U2, PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave) and mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Adele, Amy Winehouse, Rufus Wainwright). Highlights include 'Glory Days', 'Stay', 'The Remedy' - pure gospel-tinged euphoria - and ‘Wherever I Go’; the first single and rough-hewn tear-jerker.
Karima’s heart-stopping live shows invite audiences into her world and this spring she’ll be back doing what she does best. Joined by guitarist Simon Robbs and bassist Ben Adey, Karima plays a massive tour throughout April and May - it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride.
Karima Francis plays:
April
Sat 21st Sheffield, The Plugs Small Room
Mon 23rd Southampton, Cellar
Tue 24th Bristol, Louisiana
Thu 26th Birmingham, Glee Club
Fri 27th Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Sat 28th Swansea, Sin City
Sun 29th Oxford, Jericho
May
Tue 1st Chester, Telford’S Warehouse
Wed 2nd Liverpool, Eric’S
Thu 3dd Manchester, Night & Day
Fri 4th Glasgow, Abc2
Sat 5th Leeds, Live At Leeds
Mon 7th Newcastle, Cluny
Tue 8th Preston, Madferret
Wed 9th Reading, South Street
Sat 12th Brighton, The Great Escape
Sun 13th Bath, Moles
Mon 14th Exeter, Cavern Club
Wed 16th Nottingham, Bodega
Thu 17th London, Hoxton Hall