Elliott Skinner Announces Debut Solo EP 'How Far We've Come' on Ninja Tune

Elliott Skinner has announced his debut solo EP How Far We've Come, due September 18 via Ninja Tune. The six-track project marks the first full body of work released under Skinner's own name and features collaborations with Jensen McRae, Victoria Canal, and Radamiz.

Alongside the announcement, Skinner has shared lead single "DON'T BE A RUNNER" with an accompanying visualizer directed by Simon Morrison.

Skinner is a Texas-raised, New York-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has spent the past decade working alongside artists including Chaka Khan, Jon Batiste, Leon Bridges, Chance the Rapper, and Sam Smith, among others. How Far We've Come is his first project as a solo artist, arriving roughly twenty years after he wrote his first song.

On the timing, Skinner says: "All of that time and experience was needed for me to understand the artist I have become and am becoming. This is an introduction to the world that I've been building."

The EP spans themes of self-doubt, aging, reflection, and meaning. Skinner describes his sound as rooted in the Black Radical Music Tradition: "There is no other way to describe my music other than Black. Following in the footsteps of my ancestors and inspirations, the sonic experimentation, the self realisation, the expression as a necessary tool for survival. My sound is part of this lineage."

Of the lead single specifically, Skinner adds: "We often think about courage existing in the absence of fear but often, they are inextricably linked. The release of this song is the beginning of a new era for me. Not a running away or a running towards, but a conscious stepping."

Skinner has confirmed UK shows in support of the release, including a performance at Gilles Peterson Presents: We Out Here Festival and a support slot for GENA (the project of Liv.e and Karriem Riggins) on August 26 at OSLO in London.

For independent artists, Skinner's path here is worth noting: a decade of high-profile session and collaboration work, followed by a carefully timed debut on a respected label with a focused six-song statement. The EP is available to pre-save now.

'How Far We've Come' Track Listing 1. "An Introduction" 2. "DON'T BE A RUNNER" 3. "What Kind of Friend Am I" 4. "Carols of My Mind" feat. Victoria Canal and Radamiz 5. "THAT KID" feat. Jensen McRae 6. "Carry The Devil's Side"