Leo Bhanji - Shell [EP]

London based singer, songwriter and producer Leo Bhanji has been a hidden gem in Dirty Hit (The 1975/Wolf Alice/Beabadoobee)’s roster since 2020 with the release of his No Guard EP; a mix of intimate contemporary songwriting with rap flourishes and experimental electronics weaved seamlessly. His Arm’s Length EP a year later stripped away the layers even more, playing with space to experiment with how emotion is perceived within music. Spending those three years digging deeper into his own sound and expression, today sees the culmination of all those years’ work with the announcement of a new EP, Shell, to be released on 29th November.

In the three years since Leo Bhanji released his last project, he has refined his sonic tapestry with laser focus – every single sound on his forthcoming Shell EP has a direct intention, if it doesn’t add anything, it has been removed. The result is a daringly open six track masterpiece that draws every emotion from the listener’s body. Mastering the art of using his own voice as texture, Leo’s own vocal on the project is stunningly intimate, while simultaneously harnessing the gravity of those situations that’s usually typically felt rather than heard.

Leo Bhanji returns with a renewed potency. His time away, quietly crafting this brand new project has resulted in an introspective, sensitive release that feels genuinely innovative in its simplicity while demanding time for those listening to peel back all its inner layers. With Shell, Leo Bhanji once again steps out from behind the curtain to prove himself as one of the UK’s most gorgeously understated songwriters, and with it, release a project that feels somewhat experimental, but no less instant and warm.