Yesterday
2020 has been widely unpredictable to say the least! however, receiving all the new music we’ve been gifted from newer artists and established music veterans has been the ULTIMATE GOOD! One shining beacon to close out the year, coming through in the 4th Quarter is Loyle Carner blessing us with a brand new single, produced by the incredible, illustrious yet elusive producer Madlib no less, titled ‘Yesterday’!
From the opening of the track, we hear what feels like a more grown, matured Loyle whose voice feels laden with a renewed sense of purpose. Over a signature Madlib beat that carries a minimal yet galvanising energy to it, he raps:
“peace peace
From the west to the east
North to the south
In the belly of the beast”
‘Yesterday’ finds Loyle giving perspective on racial issues and discrimination, old and current, which given the social injustice and protests this year ignited by the murder of George Floyd in May whose neck was knelt on by a white police officer for 8 minutes 46 seconds, feels unfortunately timely and timeless. One bar early in the song vividly depicts the 400 yearlong oppression of black people as Loyle addresses the crushing reality of being “Twenty-four, mixed race” but “Living twelve years a slave”; ‘12 Years a Slave’; the Oscar-winning 2014 Steve McQueen film of which is based on the memoir of Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into slavery but was sufferingly able to regain his freedom, albeit twelve years later. The music video does an exceptional job of engagingly capturing the inherited pain of discrimination of black people alongside the fiery activism we develop in response to it, as we follow what seemingly appears to be an interpretation of Loyle’s upbringing from a baby in the cot to a young boy, to a teenager and then into a young man, of which is Loyle cradling a new-born baby, whilst various injustices are depicted throughout these transitions and how he encounters understanding at these various stages of development.
It’s very tender at heart but as a person of colour, does reminds me of the frustration in terms of the progress we’re still yet to make towards true equality. The brilliant direction of ‘Yesterday’ helmed by Carner himself alongside his brother Ryan aka The Coyle-Larner Brothers who also expressed their creative collaboration earlier this year, directing Arlo Parks music video ‘Eugene’. The key messaging within the track and video is the conviction to continue fighting on for a better future not just for ourselves, but for future generations. When Loyle spoke to the radio 1 DJ, Annie Mac on the release of this single, he said
“I hope that soon this song is nothing more than a reminder of a different time, and collectively we’re able to move forward to a time of more respect, acceptance and understanding.”
It’s certainly a warm welcome to hear Loyle back on our airwaves, especially given his pedigree as not just an exceptional rapper, but an individual whose voice emotively relays the current state of world and the many issues we all feel and experience, a mirroring that is needed during these turbulent times. Certainly, towards the end of track where he raps “But now my beats come from LA” and “It's LC and Madlib, it's mad loyal” gives us an exciting indication for where Loyle may heading musically in the future, perhaps with some very cool international features lined up and possible hints at the next album which could entail further Madlib production. If that doesn’t get you giddy for 2021, I’m not sure what will!