Joji: Nectar [88RISING]

Why you'll love it

Nectar on vinyl, with lyric and credit printed inner sleeves. "Run" and "Sanctuary" both reached the Billboard Hot 100, and the album brings in Benee, Lil Yachty, Omar Apollo, Yves Tumor, Rei Brown and Diplo.

This edition

• Printed lyric inner sleeves
• Printed outer sleeve

About the album

Joji wanted Nectar to be a collection of love songs with a slightly darker twist, which tells you a fair bit about how he goes about love songs. The Japanese-Australian singer recorded it for 88rising, and he widened the circle this time, bringing in a guest list that crosses R&B, indie and pop. Promotion began with "Gimme Love" in April 2020, and the pandemic pushed the album back from July to late September.

The sound is R&B at heart, with rock, alternative pop and lo-fi textures folded in. "Gimme Love" switches halfway into an entirely different song, "Daylight" with Diplo floats on a breezy beat, and "Run" builds to a big, aching guitar solo. "Pretty Boy" with Lil Yachty takes a sly look at materialism, "Afterthought" pairs him with Benee, and "Your Man" closes the set on a smooth, late-night note.

He chose the title after finding dead ants in his freezer, which proves that inspiration rarely waits for a tidier kitchen.

Also at Kops: more Joji on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On 88rising, the 2020 album.