Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-03-29
Alicia Waller Announces Debut Album Louder, Then Out May 29
Alicia Waller Finds Her Voice on Louder, Then
There’s a moment when study turns into statement—when everything you’ve absorbed finally comes back out as something entirely your own. That’s where Alicia Waller stands with Louder, Then, her debut album arriving May 29.
A classically trained vocalist with a background in international relations and music diplomacy, Waller doesn’t just sing across genres—she moves through them with intention. Louder, Then pulls from jazz, soul, and contemporary R&B, but stretches outward too, shaped by her deep study of musical traditions across the African diaspora and beyond.
Her new single, “My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time),” feels like a turning point. Built on a steady, confident groove, the track carries both reflection and forward motion—Waller stepping fully into her voice, her ambition, and the road that brought her here.
“After exploring the diversity of Black sound globally, I became curious about what it would mean to contribute my own cultural experience,” Waller explains. “That led me back to writing in my own musical language.”
Co-produced with bassist and arranger Marcos Varela (Mingus Big Band, Billy Hart, Tyshawn Sorey), the album leans into texture and conversation rather than convention. What began as songwriting evolved into something closer to world-building—layered, immersive, and constantly in motion.
There’s also a quiet defiance running through Louder, Then. Waller sidesteps expectations entirely, shaping a sound that is as weighty and exploratory as it is soulful. It’s music built not on fitting in, but on pushing outward—on claiming space.
And in that space, her voice doesn’t just rise—it resonates.
Listen to “My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time)”:
Stream Here
Louder, Then Tracklist
1. Tempo 120
2. Rhythm Play
3. My Day, Pt. I
4. My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time)
5. Someday We’ll All Be Free
6. Dream Song (For You)
7. The Climb / Job Blues
8. Love Story
