Manchester’s Lei Hope is serving up something truly special with his new EP INERTIA, out now on Heist or Hit, the label behind Westside Cowboy and Her’s. This Zimbabwe-born, Leeds-raised, Manchester-based singer-songwriter crafts a captivating fusion of indie, alternative R&B, psychedelia, and soul that’s both intimate and cinematic. If you’re into the introspective vibes of Daniel Caesar or the soulful subtlety of Charlotte Day Wilson, Lei Hope’s sound will fit right into your playlist.

The four-track EP takes you on an emotional journey through grief, loss, and growth, all wrapped in warm guitar chords and airy vocals. The title INERTIA nods to the emotional stasis of grief, exploring family estrangement and the difficulty of moving forward without an external push. The opening track LITTLE SIGN sets the tone with its wounded sibling elegy, sneaking into your ears with clappy drums and syrup-thick guitar. Then things get rawer on WAYO, where anger bubbles up over swampy bass and convulsive percussion. The softer WRITE BACK offers a bittersweet sense of letting go, while the final track HYPERINDEPENDENCY tackles childhood trauma with unflinching clarity.

Lei Hope’s sound breaks away from Manchester’s usual rock and indie legacy, instead staking his claim in the alt-R&B underground with a unique genre-fluid style. Having toured Europe and shared stages with Phoebe Green and Nell Mescal, he’s no stranger to live performance, and you can feel that groove-driven energy here. With over 100,000 Spotify streams, support from BBC 6 Music and DIY Magazine, and a growing social media following, Lei Hope is a name to watch in 2024.

INERTIA is a heartfelt, genre-mashing feast for fans craving music with soul, story, and groove — a true standout in today’s vibrant UK scene.