Nitin Sawhney announces new album and Union Chapel dates

A Mercury, Ivor, Mobo and Olivier nominated songwriter and composer, Nitin Sawhney will release his ninth studio album, 'Last Days Of Meaning', on 19 September. It is an eclectic and ambitious record, featuring the legendary John Hurt, which Sawhney showcased with an cclaimed sold-out headline show at London's Royal Albert Hall in May. He will return to headline the RAH in July, spearheading the 'Human Planet' at the BBC Proms (July 23), for which he has just been nominated for a Bafta, before headlining London's Union Chapel on 2 & 3 November.

It was during sessions for 'Human Planet' - the hugely successful, award-winning BBC series, entirely scored by Nitin - that Sawhney struck up a friendship with John Hurt; the narrator of the flagship programme itself. Conceived by Sawhney as a script before it became an album, and written and recorded in just five months, 'Last Days Of Meaning' traces the character of Donald Meaning (played by Hurt): an embittered old Dickensian man, fearful or immigrants, terrorists and the outside world. He sits in a room raging against childhood memories, society, himself and a small tape recorder sent to him by his ex-wife (the cassette-recorder contains the songs of the album).

'Last Days Of Meaning' is the latest in a line of subtly political works from Nitin Sawhney, whose last album, 2008's 'London Undersound', featured guests such as Paul McCartney, and artwork by Antony Gormley. It is written, says Sawhney, as a 'modern day Christmas Carol, almost. For me it's ultimately a parable about entrenchment and dogmatism.' It's a particularly timely concern, given the financial climate ('every time that there's an economic downturn, politicians seem to blame immigrants. It's an obvious scapegoat'). Having been on the receiving end of prejudice from his formative years - 'The National Front was very strong around where I grew up' - this record is Sawhney's first work to consciously imagine life from the opposing mindset. 'It's a journey towards self-acceptance,' he says, 'and sits alongside 'The Human Planet' nicely as well, since both essentially celebrate human diversity.'

Tour dates:

Saturday, July 23 London Royal Albert Hall (Human Planet, BBC Proms)

Wednesday, November 2 London Union Chapel
Thursday, November 3 London Union Chapel

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