Louis Cole announces nothing, the LP will be dropping on August 9th via Brainfeeder (Thundercat). The album, a collaboration with the Dutch Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley. Taken from Cole’s live performances with the Orkest, nothing fuses breath-taking classical orchestration with dance music, pop, and jazz sensibilities. Cole will return to Germany and the Netherlands this fall to perform nothing alongside the Orkest and Buckley. Along with the announcement, Cole shares new single “Things Will Fall Apart.” The Cover artwork by Louis Cole and design by Adam Stover. There will also be a limited edition 2LP clear/black marbled vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Taking inspiration from big band horns, “Things Will Fall Apart” is exemplary of Jules Buckley and Louis Cole’s respective musical genius and talent. With Cole’s feather-light vocals overlaying an orchestration of funk percussion, strings, horns, and barbershop back-up vocals, this momentous single paves the way for his musical evolution showcased by nothing.

The Metropole Orkest proved to be the ideal partner for this endeavor. Over the course of its 80 year history, it has worked with legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Pat Metheny, and Herbie Hancock – exactly the kind of border-crossing mentality Cole was looking for. Add into the equation the conductor, arranger, curator and composer Jules Buckley and this really is a triple threat of epic proportions. Buckley is a unique and rare breed of artist, who has redefined the rulebook of orchestral music and the role of a conductor.

Together, the ensemble embarked on a multi-date sold-out tour through Europe with the 50-piece orchestra, Cole’s band, as well as guest stars like his long-time creative partner Genevieve Genevieve Artadi – Forever ForeverArtadi. With the exception of a few vocal re-recordings and instrumental overdubs, everything you’ll hear on nothing was culled from these ecstatic live dates.

Cole was looking for something very specific. The challenge was to create music that had a deep emotional impact, while also being really simple and straight-forward. Already at the earliest stages of his orchestral ambitions, he had tried and failed to achieve this ideal. It would remain an obsession for years. Even when nothing was still a live project, it didn’t seem like he would be able to pull it off. And then, at the very last minute, Louis decided to give it one more go. One night, he sat down at the keyboard and instantly realized: “This is it!” He struck on the ideas and themes which would become the pivotal title track of the album.

Having already written and arranged the suite, Cole is also very proud of the mixing, an epic task in its own right. For a full nine months, he selected the best takes, tweaked the sonic balance and adjusted frequencies until the orchestral parts really shone. “I was sad when the mixing was over,” he laughs, “Sometimes, when I’m mixing my own solo stuff, I’ll feel like a song needs a little magical dust. But mixing an entire orchestra and your own rhythm section, there’s so much human energy! You don’t have to add any magic. It was there the whole time.”

Pre-order Nothing by Louis Cole HERE