Surinamese / Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter néomí releases her tender new single 'i could never leave' today
Following the release of her highly-acclaimed single ‘skipping stone’ at the start of the year, which was supported by the likes of The Line of Best Fit and NOTION, and gained her a second Record of the Week from UK industry newsletter Record of the Day, néomí, aka Surinamese/Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter Neomi Speelman, continues the support for her eagerly-awaited new EP ‘after’ with the tender new offering ‘i could never leave’.
As the final entry in her forthcoming new collection, ‘i could never leave’ acts as a heartfelt curtain call on this moment within her career to date. Channelling more of that sweet and alluring disposition she always looks to project, her newest effort is another beautifully haunted ode to fallen relationships and moving on from more troubled times.
Adding about ‘i could never leave’, she said, "‘i could never leave’ is a track that lies very close to my heart. I think this song comes closest to my feelings than any other at this point. Every time I hear it or play it, it brings me back to this one love I had. I couldn’t go, I couldn’t move, I wanted to but also didn’t want to. It’s hard to describe but those who know this feeling know what I mean. It’s about a relationship shifting, like a big force, like stars falling in the sky. Self-development, acceptance but also grief at the same time. I really enjoyed the process of creating this song as well, together with my friend Will it was very natural and went so quickly because the story was just so clear and came flowing out of me. It didn’t need much time or thinking. It felt raw and honest, and I hope it comes across that way because it’s true."
The release of ‘i could never leave’ coincides with a string of support shows néomí embarks on throughout Europe alongside SYML. Once complete, she also plans to venture out once again with label mate Jonathan Jeremiah on his latest EU stint. Full list of live dates for both tours can be found below.
SYML European Tour
9th Mar - Amsterdam, Paradiso
10th Mar - Cologne, Burgerhaus Stollwerck
11th Mar - Antwerp, De Roma
13th Mar - Milan, Circolo Magnolia
14th Mar - Zurich, Kaufleuten Festaal
15th Mar - Munich, Ampere
17th Mar - Vienna, Porgy & Bess
18th Mar - Warsaw, Praga Centrum
19th Mar - Berlin, Heimathafen Neukolln
20th Mar - Hamburg, Uebel & Gefaehrlich
Jonathan Jeremiah European Tour
10th Apr - Munich Muffathalle
11th Apr - Erlangen E-Werk
12th Apr - Mainz Kuz
13th Apr - Cologne Kantine
14th Apr - Leipzig Werk 2
15th Apr - Berlin Columbia Theater
16th Apr - Hannover Pavillon
17th Apr - Hamburg Fabrik
18th Apr - Antwerp Trix Club
19th Apr - Paris Backstage by The Mill
“i could never leave” and “skipping stone” follow on from her stunning single ‘red balloon’, her first new release since delivering her highly-praised debut EP ‘before’ last year, which garnered almost 2 million streams and 125k Spotify monthly listeners as well as landing her first global Apple Music playlists in ‘Breaking Singer/Songwriter’ and ‘New in Singer-Songwriter’. She was also recently voted #5 of the whole Eurosonic Noorderslag festival by 3voor12, the Dutch equivalent to the BBC and she was awarded 3FM Talent by 3FM.
‘after’ EP track listing:
skipping stone
red balloon
lies made out of love
oblivious
oh my darling
i could never leave
2020 was set to be the breakout year for néomí as she recorded her first singles with British engineer/producer Edd Hartwell (Tom Walker, Birdy, Tom Odell), supported singer-songwriting legend Don McLean and was also invited to the UK to play her first shows abroad. However, the out-break of a pandemic quickly followed by a life-changing event scuppered these plans with néomí using the next 12 months to develop as a songwriter and add to her growing catalogue of songs. Now, with the world returning to normality, néomí finds herself signed to [PIAS] with dozens of songs ready and waiting to be uncaged and take flight.
néomí: “It hurt me that I couldn't connect with people last year through my music, but I know now even more, that when the time comes, we will connect. And I hope people are just as eager as me to experience my music together. Like an artist I admire much once said: “the music has served me, now let the music serve you.”
As a youngster néomí’s first step into music didn’t exactly start on the right foot. After begrudgingly attending piano lessons as a child, when she was given the choice, the unimpressed Neomi quit and vowed never to play music again. I wasn’t until years later, during a browse on a popular Internet video website that she stumbled across a live video of Ben Howard performing ‘Old Pine’ with a cellist in tow. Spellbound and inspired, néomí came out of her musical retirement, picked up a guitar and began teaching herself how to play from online tutorials.
As a teenager, néomí was invited to audition for a music school in Amsterdam despite being a year too young to apply. Luckily the administrative error was overlooked as néomí was accepted on her raw talent and potential. Over the next 4 years she would hone her song writing and sound, her main influences stemming between Bon Iver, Bob Dylan, and Ben Howard. She says of the trio “their lyrics are outstanding and insanely beautiful. I don’t think they make songs, but they make art, poems. That’s something I also really try to do; make little poems instead of songs.”
néomí released her debut 5 song EP ‘before’ on June 24th 2022 via [PIAS] which was supported by CLASH, The Independent, GIGWISE, Under The Radar, La Blogotheque, Cool Hunting, Ones To Watch, LOCK Mag, Record Of The Day (Song of the Day for each track) and many more. She soon found herself opening for Novo Amor, HAEVN, The Slow Show and Celine Cairo on their 2022 shows in the Netherlands and was named both OOR and 3voor12 Talent for the upcoming Popronde tour.
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