WONK Returns with “Shades of”—First Album in Two Years Featuring Toshinobu Kubota

WONK will release their new album ‘Shades of’ on Wednesday, November 13.

WONK, who have been pioneering experimental soul since 2013, celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2023 with a series of international collaborations. These included ‘Fleeting Fantasy’ with LA-based Stones Throw keyboardist and producer Kiefer, and ‘Snowy Road’ featuring Taiwanese neo-soul/R&B/jazz singer 9m88. In 2024, the band collaborated with Toshinobu Kubota and rapper Jinmenusagi, further establishing their unique presence as a bridge between diverse musical genres.

Their upcoming album, the first in about two years since the EP ‘artless,’ marks a return to the soulful, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop beats that defined their 2016 debut album ‘Sphere.’ Seven artists, both domestic and international, will contribute to the project, creating what WONK describes as a ‘beat music chronicle rooted in Tokyo.’

Pre-orders for the album began on Tuesday, September 10, at CD shops and online retailers.