"Just For One Night" is the new track from Blonde Feat. Norway's Astrid S!


Monday 19th June 2017

Just For One Night ft Astrid S

Release date: TBC Label: Parlophone

 

After scoring two Top 10 hits with ‘I Loved You’ and ‘All Cried Out’, Blonde’s Craig David collaboration ‘Nothing Like This’ ensured that they have accumulated 3 x Gold Records and over 120 million streams at Spotify as well a combined total of over seven months in the Top 40. And if that wasn’t enough, their instinct for a natural pop hook was also in evidence as co-writers on the platinum selling hit Rudimental / Ed Sheeran collaboration ‘Lay It All On Me’.

Now the newly revitalised duo return with a new sound as they share the track ‘Just For One Night’ which features rising Norwegian star Astrid S. ‘Just For One Night’ represents a natural evolution in the Blonde sound with a more international feel inspired by artists as diverse as Ekali, The Weeknd, Drake and Joe Mason. Yet Blonde’s best traits – an instinct for a killer pop song and an uplifting atmosphere – are also present.

Blonde’s Jake Manson wrote the song with hotly-tipped newcomer RAYE before working on the production with his Blonde cohort Adam Englefield. They both agreed that Astrid S would be the perfect fit for the track’s topline.

“As soon as the song was written I knew that Astrid would absolutely kill it,” says Jake. “She felt like the perfect fit because she’s got that Scandinavian coldness to her vocal. It’s edgy, cool and very strong, but it’s also got a vulnerability to it. All the Blonde singles have had really distinct vocals – Alex Newell, Melissa Steel, Craig David – and Astrid is the perfect continuation of that.”

Blonde 2.0 therefore is “more encompassing stylistically” according to Adam with varying genres, tempos and vibes. Meanwhile, Jake has been contributing live instrumentation (primarily guitar) to much of their new material, and their desire to freshen up their sound even extended to him designing new synth patches from scratch.

From the outside, it looks as if the Blonde camp has enjoyed some downtime since the release of ‘Nothing Like This’ but the truth has been somewhat different: two tours of Asia, one trip to America, a summer Pacha residency as guest to Martin Solveig, UK festivals from Glastonbury to SW4, a long-running monthly mix series, and guesting with Sigala on Imani Williams’ track ‘Don’t Need Money’.

And even that isn’t the extent of it, given that Jake has also been working as a songwriter on a variety of emerging pop projects including the next Craig David album. Equally as hectic, Adam delved back into his underground roots by forming his own Nightbeast Records label to nurture the best of the hordes of young artists who would send him their tracks on spec.

Yet the most vital part of the past year was to take some time to reflect on where they’d come from but, more importantly, to focus on where they’re heading as their music began to evolve in new directions.

Craig & Scott



Posted by Craig Jones