Celeste Releases New Single “Woman Of Faces”
Today CELESTE shares her new single, “Woman Of Faces,” from her forthcoming album of the same name. The studio version of the song follows the release of its original demo last month, which came out alongside a French version titled “A Femme aux Mille Visages.” Celeste’s second studio album Woman Of Faces will be released on November 14th via Blue Note/ Capitol Records. Produced by multi-GRAMMY® award winner Jeff Bhasker and Beach Noise, the album features nine songs, including the previously released singles “On With The Show” and “This Is Who I Am.”
The new single, “Woman Of Faces” is a stirring, string-drenched ballad with its orchestral swell slowly rising around Celeste’s forlorn, captivating vocal. It is a gripping, emotional gem underlining just how much her highly anticipated new record is worth the wait and then some.
Stemming from the slow unravelling of a romantic relationship, and her determination to emerge from the other side triumphant, Woman Of Faces is a body of work born out of pain, but also a steadfast resilience to keep moving forward, even when everything else felt like it was falling apart. From the orchestral highs to the gut-wrenching lows, it’s a chronicle of heartbreak, recovery and reclaiming control. Unflinching and unfiltered, it’s the sound of an artist learning to trust herself.
On the album’s eponymous lead song, Celeste takes the theme of self-actualization further, burrowing into her own complexities and learning to accept the unknowable sides of herself. The production sounds plucked from an old Hollywood score, with sweeping string arrangements contrasting against a modern meditation on multifaceted womanhood.
Talking about her new single “Woman Of Faces,” Celeste says, “Initially, the song was about realising I have shades of complexity within my mind and not being able to pinpoint what or why they were there. It gave me a sort of diagnosis. Like, yes, I find it hard to navigate, but at least I can begin to adapt.” Celeste also hopes that other women will see themselves in the song, particularly the unsung heroes of daily life, who are always there to lean on and expect nothing in return. “I want it to speak for people who don’t feel seen. There are some women who are constant caregivers that just go unnoticed, they’re always waiting in the wings. People don’t thank them, but they’re always there. I want that song to be for those people.”
Celeste has had an incredible summer, captivating audiences with a string of rapturously received live performances, highlighted by her appearance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Critics are unanimous in their praise. The Guardian celebrated her “brilliantly smoky, soulful vocals,” drawing comparisons to “Billie Holiday, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin,” but adding that her “distinctly English lilt provides a girl-next-door entry point to her magnificence.” Similarly, The Telegraph declared her voice her “superpower,” describing it as “round, full, elegantly husky at the edges and today it’s at full force.”
Woman Of Faces tracklisting is:
1. On With The Show
2. Keep Smiling
3. Woman of Faces
4. Happening Again
5. Time Will Tell
6. People Always Change
7. Sometimes
8. Could Be Machine
9. This Is Who I Am
A lot has happened since Celeste’s spell-binding performance of her breakout song “Strange” at the BRIT Awards placed her firmly in the global spotlight. The British-Jamaican musician, who landed the prestigious double win of both the BRITs Rising Star Award and BBC Music’s Sound of 2020, achieved a No. 1 on the UK charts with her 2021 debut album Not Your Muse. That year also saw her earn a Mercury Prize nomination alongside Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for “Hear My Voice,” her lead single from The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Since then, Celeste has taken a step back from the glare of mainstage spotlights to recalibrate and reconnect with herself, figuring out how to stay true to her vision and sense of authenticity in her work. She made a striking return in November, releasing “This Is Who I Am” and making her acting debut in Steve McQueen’s acclaimed film Blitz. This was followed by the release of the long-awaited track “Everyday,” which was initially released on vinyl for Record Store Day 2024. Check out more music news here.
Photo credit: Erika Kamano