UMI releases “whatever u like,” the second single and music video from her upcoming debut album, Forest in the City, which will be available everywhere on May 27th via Keep Cool / RCA Records. The “whatever u like” video follows UMI and some newfound friends on a journey of self-discovery as they wander the forest and coastline, ultimately reconnecting with the child within themselves. The video is directed by Will Noyce and UMI with UMI also contributing to the creative direction alongside frequent collaborator Eddie Mandell. “whatever u like” is an uplifting follow-up to the album’s first single “sorry,” which was released last month. “sorry” was spotlighted as the best new music by MTV and Teen Vogue who wrote, “Umi is at her best, using the dreamy track as both a diary entry and a manifestation.”
In tandem with the album release next month, UMI will hit the road for her first U.S. tour which kicks off with back-to-back shows in her hometown Seattle and includes sold-out shows in San Francisco, New York, Chicago and more. The response to the tour has been overwhelming with many of the venues needing to be upgraded to larger spaces and second dates added in several cities. Limited tickets for select dates, in addition to upcoming news, can be found on UMI’s website here.
UMI leads with peace. With this intention, multidisciplinary artist Tierra Umi Wilson —who goes by the moniker UMI (which means ‘ocean’ in Japanese)— builds a space for healing in her music. UMI’s voice is a soft embrace as her vocals gently call listeners to be reflective or embrace the range of their emotions. Rooted in R&B and neo-soul and powered by her journey in discovering her queerness and balancing her Blackness and Japanese immigrant family dynamics, UMI digs deep in her lyrics to convey experiences that are unique to her, but are also extremely relatable — attributes of a talented songwriter. The 23-year-old Seattle native, who’s now based in LA, has continued to gain momentum since releasing her first EP Balance in 2019. Her breakout single, “Remember Me,” has earned over 117 million streams on Spotify alone and prompted Vogue to name them as one of the “young breakthrough musicians making noise in the music industry.” She has released consecutive EPs, which includes Love Language in 2019, Introspection in 2020 and her latest, Introspection Reimagined, in 2021. On the freshly composed interpretation of Introspection, “UMI grows ever more contemplative, drawing out gorgeous piano melodies and vocal runs.” (Teen Vogue) It was recorded at the legendary Shangri-La Studios in Malibu and each song was rearranged by UMI and created top to bottom with a full band, complete with horns and strings. UMI’s dedication, execution and ingenuity has earned them recognition from the likes of Vogue, Interview, WWD and Billboard, and support from the likes of Chanel and Nike. Throughout 2021, UMI brought her live show to festival stages including Governors Ball, Day N Vegas and Head in the Clouds, as well as joining Burna Boy for a performance at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. Now, with four years steadfast towards her major label debut album, UMI is arriving with Forest in the City. What began as a series of questions, including “Is the city our new forest? And how does the city impact our minds?,” evolved into sonic epiphanies and UMI’s proudest work yet. With the album release only weeks away, stay tuned for more news from UMI.
Forest in the City Tour
May 28 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
May 29 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
May 30 — Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
June 1 — Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s (SOLD OUT)
June 3 — San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall (SOLD OUT)
June 4 — San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall (SOLD OUT)
June 6 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
June 7 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
June 9 — Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
June 10 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
June 12 — Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
June 13 — Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge and Music Hall
June 14 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues
June 16 — Atlanta, GA @ The Loft (SOLD OUT)
June 18 — Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
June 20 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
June 21 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall (SOLD OUT)
June 22 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
June 24 — Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
June 26 — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
June 28 — Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
June 29 — Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall (SOLD OUT)
June 30 — Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall