“her laid-back neo-soul feels as soft and refreshing as grass coated in early-morning dew”
– Pitchfork
“one of those unique contemporary soul singers with a voice that travels directly to your heart”
– Pigeons & Planes
“UMI offers listeners a chance to unwind and reflect with her light and airy tunes that flow like water”
– Genius
Ascendant young R&B star UMI – has revealed details of her highly anticipated Epic Records debut, people stories, out August 22nd. Inspired by the stories of fans and loved ones, the project explores the depth of the human experience and the surprising inner connectedness of our life stories. She sings about ego, healing, identity, and connection—all filtered through her signature tranquil songwriting and seamless ability to weave across genres like soul, R&B, folk, and pop.
people stories is UMI’s most personal and expansive to date, showcasing an even wider range of soundscapes and feelings. Along with outros from her therapist during the writing process, the songs weave narratives together and the album’s recorded-as-live performances pay tribute to life’s beautiful messiness. “I wanted to be the storyteller, the vessel to express everyone’s stories,” UMI says of crafting the record. “We all live very similar lives, same colors, slightly different hues. I find that to be very comforting. While writing this album, I found myself in every story I was expressing. I was reminded of how colorful the human experience is. For me, learning to accept even the darkest colors of life was deeply healing and possible through relating to others.”
Along with the album’s announce, UMI shares a double drop of two new tracks “SOMEWHERE NEW” and “WHAT NOW,” following earlier releases “HARD TRUTHS” ft. 6LACK and “10AM” which were unleashed earlier in the Summer.
LISTEN TO “WHAT NOW” AND “SOMEWHERE NEW” HERE
WATCH “SOMEWHERE NEW” MUSIC VIDEO HERE
The Seattle-born artist of mixed heritage creates not just music, but an experience that feels as intimate as a journal entry—tender, raw, and rooted in emotional truth. Born to musically-inclined parents, UMI’s love affair with words began young. After sharing acoustic covers and original songs on SoundCloud during her high school years, she gained a devoted following thanks to her soothing voice and spiritually-resonant songwriting. Her skyrocketing career led the singer to leave USC to continue honing her craft, where soon after, her writing and creativity evolved into groundbreaking EPs. Her earliest projects—Interlude (2018), Balance (2019), and Love Language (2019)—laid the foundation for a career that has remained independent in spirit, even as her reach has expanded.
As UMI gears up to release people stories – she finds herself stepping into deeper layers of vulnerability—an emotional terrain that both challenges and empowers her. “I think this whole album has reminded me that even when I feel the worst of the worst of the worst, I’m not alone in these feelings….When I turn people’s stories into songs, it pulls me out of myself in a good way,” UMI says as she reflects on how the creative process has become a form of healing. While moments of overwhelm and breakdown may still come about, her ability to ground herself in her work reminds us that we have the capacity to keep going and it often begins with shifting your perspective and getting out of your head.
In embracing vulnerability, UMI has also found a powerful sense of freedom—one rooted not in flawlessness, but in authenticity. “This album has taught me that my worth is not in perfection,” she says. Much of the project was recorded in her home studio, where ambient sounds—from the air conditioner to creaking doors—made their way into the final tracks. (“I was like, ‘Keep it all, I don’t care.’ she shares.) For UMI, these imperfections aren’t mistakes—they’re invitations to connect more deeply, both with herself and her listeners. “I’m kind of curious to see where releasing perfection can take me in my life,” she says, signaling a creative and personal shift that values presence and letting go.
With people stories, UMI reminds us that our experiences—no matter how specific, tender, or difficult—are never just ours alone. Each story she tells, each emotion she unearths, becomes a mirror in which others can see themselves. By laying bare her own vulnerability, she creates space, not just for herself, but for anyone who’s ever felt unseen or unheard. It’s in this honesty, this refusal to hide the messiness of being human, that UMI offers something rare: the reassurance that we are not alone in what we carry, and that through shared stories, even the most fragmented parts of us can begin to feel whole.
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Ayanna Wilks
As the VP of Publicity at Epic Records, Ayanna handles the US communications strategies for music artists such as Tyla, Mariah the Scientist, ScarLip, DJ Spinall, Madison Beer, 21 Savage, GIVĒON, BIA, Real Boston Richey, Mimi Webb, Jabari Banks, Mike Dimes, India Shawn, , Southside, Joy Crookes and more.
