Ben Howard announces new album 'Is It?' out 16/06 | LIVE @ RW

Ben Howard releases his fifth studio album, ‘Is It?’ on the 16th June 2023 through Island Records. In the Summer of 2022, Ben and his band recorded ‘Is It?’ over 10 days in the Le Manoir de Léon studios, nestled between Bordeaux and Biarritz, in the South of France.

The album is introduced by Couldn’t Make It Up produced by Bullion (Westerman, Nilüfer Yanya, Orlando Weeks). Couldn’t Make It Up is the first track of that ten-song record, exploring music after Ben experienced two mini strokes (TIAs). Is it? is a lush, sonically splintered album which captures Howard working through those moments of seismic shift.

Ben has to say: “I found it impossible not to dwell on the absurdity of it, that with one tiny clot, one can lose all faculties. It really ate into the writing of the record.”

In March 2022, Ben Howard was sat in his garden when he found himself unable to think clearly, form sentences or speak for almost an hour. A month later, after the same thing happened again, the Ivor Novello Award-winning singer-songwriter learned he’d suffered two TIAs (transient ischemic attacks - known as mini-strokes). “It was out of the blue,” says the 35 year-old. “It was a confusing time.”

That June, after a month of inconclusive hospital tests Howard and his band returned to Le Manoir de Léon, where they’d previously worked on his acclaimed third album Noonday Dream. This is Ben’s first new music since the release of Noonday Dream, which debuted at the top of the UK album charts, his second number one record to date.

The album’s striking artwork (see below) was designed by Portuguese graphic design and illustrator Bráulio Amado.

Next month, Ben kicks off a UK and European tour in Madrid at La Riviera on the 18th May, hitting cities through Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK including an already sold-out show at London’s new Alexandra Palace Park on 22nd July. He is currently confirmed for UK festival performances at Boardmasters and Victorious in Portsmouth, and headlines “On the Mount at Wasing” series of outdoor shows in Berkshire.

A new date at London’s Royal Albert Hall is now announced for 1st June. Tickets go on general sale from Friday 28th April at 10am BST.

Tickets for all headline dates are on sale now via www.benhowardmusic.co.uk