I think this is really quite awful, it refuses to grow and just remains boring for me.

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Eight years ago during the summer of 2012, Ben and I began writing the first rough version of a song called Uptight Downtown. It didn’t come out until two years later when it had been through many changes but it was sad when it did because it felt like it had lost all meaning coming out so long after it’s motivation.

 

That motivation was solidarity and shared anger, that is still felt today.

It’s sad that the song feels like it could have been written this summer and it doesn’t seem like we have learnt a lot from what happened in London 9 years ago.

 

I remember a lot of shaming and blaming about looting, which is where the line about changing shoes came from. Ben and I were both perplexed that that was the focus of the news and commentary of such an important issue and the same is happening worldwide now. Hopefully from these protests we can support people that are experiencing something we will never have to and continue to make much needed change.

 

I must state that I am not posting this to draw attention to my work. The song was written out of love, anger and solidarity, and unfortunately I still feel the same today so I’m putting it up as a show of support.

 

Any money I receive that is now generated from this song will be donated to charities connected to and in support of the BLM movement. I have also made my own personal donations and am committed to supporting my local community here in Brixton.

 

While this is one of the weakest songs on the album, it makes more sense listening to it now than it did when the album initially dropped. I don't think it should have been a single when the album had SO MUCH goodness on offer, but I am glad that its message is making a lot of sense right now.