Stream Black Yaya's debut self-titled LP, exclusively on Best Fit

The self-titled album is set to get released proper on 2 March by City Slang.

Revealing his intentions for the album in the press release, Ivar "wanted to go back to recording everything himself, far from the recording facilities he had got used to with Herman Dune. He wanted to feel like he had when he was using four track tape recorders in High School, free to try anything with no pressure in terms of time spent working, or cost. His heroes were Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and John Lennon he admired them with all his heart, they were singers, writers and guitar players, and that was all he cared for... He felt they were the highest point of creativity, and that he’d better aim to the top, if one day he wanted to reach high, or at least to raise the level a little bit."

Speaking about the record himself, Ivar said: "Some records you need to make. This album happened to me. I needed to write, sing and record these songs. I needed to do everything myself, like when you need to scream your lungs out, by yourself. When picking the tunes that were going to be on the album, I went for a rather short list, so that it would be the kind of album you know all the songs on, and listen to many times…"

Ivar will be celebrating the release of Black Yaya at Rough Trade East on 4 March. Check at the bottom of the page for his April UK tour dates.

Stream the record below.

April

8 - Bristol (UK), Start The Bus
9 - London (UK), The Lexington
10 - Coventry (UK), Tin Music & Arts
11 - Manchester (UK), Soup Kitchen
12 - Leeds (UK), Brudenell Social Club
13 - Glasgow (UK), Mono
15 - Hull (UK), Adelphi Club