Ugly (LP)

UGLY, an acronym for U Gotta Love Yourself, is slowthai's third studio album. Musically, this new album may show a side of him that people haven't heard before, but he sees it as the fullest picture yet. Attentive listeners will have noticed this musical tendency before, on either his 2019 debut Nothing Great About Britain with the punk-rock gallop of 'Doorman'.

Produced by Dan Carey at his home studio in South London and alongside frequent collaborator Kwes Darko, UGLY is a fluid combination of musicians including Ethan P. Flynn, Jockstrap's Taylor Skye, Beabadoobee guitarist Jacob Bugden, drummer Liam Toon, and on the dark and woozy title track, his friends Fontaines D.C.

UGLY is a new direction but not necessarily a permanent one. The message is change after all. Internalising and reflecting; the whole process of making UGLY has been one of relearning not to care what people think and reclaiming the freedom that drew slowthai to music in the first place.