Not Waving, But Drowning (Vinyl)

London-based Benjamin Coyle-Larner, also known as Loyle Carner, sometimes doesn’t know if his music can be identified as rap, poetry or songs. His music is not about cars, girls or other materialistic things, but about family, world affairs and real life.

His debut album ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ from 2017 was nominated for a Mercury Prize and a BRIT Award. The subject family is woven into Carner’s music so far, that his mother even recites a poem on ‘Yesterday’s Gone’. On his new album ‘Not Waving, But Drowning’ we hear that Loyle Carner is still capable of telling stories with the flow of a rapper and the sensitivity of a poet.

The album is named after a poem by his grandfather and covers topics such as family, friendship, multiculturalism and the everreturning real life. There are also several collaborations on the album, including with Tom Misch and Jorja Smith.