Leela James, the acclaimed R&B artist, has revealed the title and release date for her highly-anticipated upcoming album. Thought You Knew is scheduled to drop on October 27, courtesy of BMG.
The album announcement features striking official artwork portraying Leela James, her distinctive two-toned afro making a bold statement.
While an official tracklist for Thought You Knew has yet to be unveiled, it has been confirmed that the album will include the lead single “Right Back In It.” James co-wrote this track, released in July, in collaboration with Franci Richard.
In discussing “Right Back In It,” James shared, “My music is my art, and I’m always excited to share my craft with the world. ‘Right Back In It’ is special as it highlights the importance of getting back to yourself, getting back to love, and getting back to what makes you feel good.”
“Right Back In It,” produced by Rex Rideout, has been making waves on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, currently holding the No. 14 position. At the time of this publication, it has spent eight weeks on the chart.
Leela James’ previous album, See Me, was released via BMG in 2021. This album featured the chart-topping single “Complicated,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
A month later, an official “Complicated (Remix)” featuring Anthony Hamilton was released, earning the duo a nomination for Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration (Traditional) at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards.
In describing “Complicated,” James stated, “I wanted to give the people something that I felt we needed in the R&B and soul culture, from a time where we used to feel it and it used to sound like that. [Itâs a] throwback, but itâs still fresh and new.”
“See Me” included additional successful singles such as “You’re The One” and “Break My Soul” featuring Mumu Fresh. Each of these tracks received accompanying visuals, along with a music video for the album’s title track.
Leela James is currently on a U.S. tour, with the final North American date scheduled for November 24 in New Orleans. In October, starting on the 22nd in Stockholm, she plans to embark on an international tour. For more details, visit leelajames.com.
Watch the music video for Leela James’ “Right Back In It” below.
