British-Ghanaian singer/songwriter Nectar Woode comes house to herself on ‘it’s like I by no means left,’ a dreamy, genre-blurring EP reckoning with id, blended heritage, and belonging. From face-melting soul to seductive alt-R&B, these six soul-stirring tracks hint a strong journey towards realizing – and eventually accepting – each your self and your house on this planet.
Stream: “Solely Occur” – Nectar Woode
“It’s like I by no means left.”
A mild, soul-stirring chorus on the coronary heart of “Residence Once more,” these 5 phrases echo far past a single tune. They converse to heritage and therapeutic, to id reclaimed and roots rediscovered. For British-Ghanaian singer/songwriter Nectar Woode, they mark a homecoming to self – a realization that even within the midst of uncertainty, she was by no means actually misplaced.
Launched July 18th through Since 93, Woode’s third EP it’s like I by no means left is a dreamy, seductive, and soul-soaked reverie – a file of catharsis and connection, of in search of, unlearning, and coming house. Wealthy in emotional nuance and sonic heat, its six songs simmer with the ability of self-affirmation. Her music strikes effortlessly between vulnerability and boldness, grounding itself in questions of belonging and id whereas celebrating love, household, and development. From moments of sun-soaked pleasure to darker, introspective depths, Woode crafts an immersive listening expertise filled with tenderness and triumph.
The result’s a group that stirs the soul and lights the trail ahead – a daring, stunning reminder that therapeutic doesn’t imply forgetting. It means remembering who you’ve been all alongside. it’s like I by no means left is Nectar Woode’s most private and poignant work so far – a radiant testomony to self-acceptance, neighborhood, and the ability of coming house.
Raised in a working-class neighborhood in Milton Keynes, England, Nectar Woode grew up immersed in artistic vitality – her Ghanaian father, a saxophone-playing jazz lover; her English mom, an artist and trend sample cutter. From early jam classes to London’s underground soul and jazz scenes, Woode has at all times carried music as a vessel for self-expression. However whereas her previous tasks launched us to her artistry, it’s like I by no means left marks a deeper unraveling – a turning inward, and outward, without delay.
Woode’s new EP arrives simply eight months after Head Above Water, her critically acclaimed second undertaking. That file, that includes standouts like “How It’s Gotta Be,” “30 Levels,” and “Head Above Water” (the latter of which was BBC Radio 1’s Monitor Of The Week), was a breakthrough second – a refined, emotionally wealthy providing that showcased Woode’s vocal management, melodic intuition, and sharp lyrical perception. However whereas Head Above Water launched the world to a rising soul expertise, it’s like I by no means left reveals the girl behind the voice. “I felt like my earlier tasks have been introductions to who I’m as an artist,” Woode says. “Now I’m getting deeper into my genetic make-up and the sounds that impressed my journey to Ghana.”
Woode’s heritage has at all times been central to her music, however by no means extra so than it’s at present.
The singer/songwriter took her first journey to Ghana on the prime of 2025, and in doing so, unlocked part of herself she had lengthy been trying to find. She describes the expertise as wholly transformative – for her sense of self, for her understanding of the world, and for her method to her artwork.
“I had by no means been to Ghana earlier than, which made up 50% of me,” she displays. “I desperately wished to go and uncover that a part of myself.” That journey – each literal and emotional – gave delivery to this EP: A full-circle second that bridges the divide between upbringing and origin, Milton Keynes and Accra, self and story.
“My imaginative and prescient was at all times showcasing the journey of being from blended heritage and what meaning being introduced up in UK but in addition being Ghanian,” Woode explains.
“This EP was birthed from my writing [the song] ‘Solely Occur’ and discussing me being from blended heritage and being introduced up within the UK however not feeling actually belong anyplace. The undertaking takes us via that journey and exploring totally different songwriting methods, with ‘LOSE’ and ‘Gentle as a feather’ being made in Ghana, after which writing all the opposite songs round this journey. In Ghana, I used to be welcomed with open arms and felt like I had been validated the entire time rising up within the UK with such wealthy Ghanaian tradition round, so after I got here again, I used to be grateful to have had my neighborhood in Milton Keynes, but in addition meet my neighborhood in Ghana, too. [It was] a journey with a full circle second.”
Woode candidly describes it’s like I by no means left with three phrases: “Trustworthy, Id, and Heat.” These sentiments run like a present via all six songs, each tethered to lived expertise, collective reminiscence, and emotional development. “I believe I contact on matters [here] that I haven’t talked about earlier than – deeper matters based mostly on my id and the way I match into society in 2025. I wished folks to resonate with this extra private matter.”
The EP’s title comes from a core line within the sweetly tender closing monitor, “Residence Once more”: “I’m house once more, it’s like I by no means left. Nonetheless make the espresso the identical, I’m house once more,” Woode sings, her light voice sizzling on the mic. It’s one of many some ways she drives house this sense of long-sought interior and outer peace; of a tranquility and belonging she by no means had till now.
“I wrote this tune after getting back from Ghana the place I felt full in myself,” she says. “That journey answered so many questions on my id and the place I belonged. Although ‘Residence Once more’ is certainly a love tune about somebody very particular, I got here to the conclusion that I went via this journey for a motive, and I didn’t must query myself as a result of I’ve at all times been accepted inside my neighborhood in London, Milton Keynes, and Ghana! It’s the sensation of lastly being at peace along with your id.”
Darling you look so misplaced
Simply let your shoulders drop
Inform me what’s in your thoughts
Don’t allow them to get you down
The world will maintain turning spherical
All of us stay and die
All of us stay and die
Put on no matter you want
(Ama stated) Drive wherever you need
(Ama stated) Love whoever you’re keen on
(Ama stated) With open arms
Do no matter you’re feeling
Reside a bit of an excessive amount of
Love whoever you’re keen on
Don’t struggle so laborious
– “Ama stated,” Nectar Woode
it’s like I by no means left is actually a glistening, genre-blurring physique of labor: Throughout six stirring songs, Nectar Woode involves life in a daring melting pot of face-melting soul, dreamy R&B, jazz-laced textures, and extra –
– all of which come collectively to inform a cohesive, cathartic journey of id and heritage, honesty and vulnerability, self-love and self-acceptance.
The EP begins with “Solely Occur,” the spark that ignited the complete file. Written alongside Jordan Rakei, the spellbinding tune units the scene for the entire EP with a slow-burning meditation on anxiousness, id, and interior rhythm. “We wrote this based mostly off our experiences being from blended heritage and never feeling like you slot in to both facet,” Woode shares. “We wished to seize that uncomfortable feeling within the songwriting and manufacturing… with the extraordinary harmonies proper firstly and the driving beat.”
In beforehand that includes “Solely Occur” on Atwood Journal’s 125th Editor’s Picks, I praised it as “a masterclass in restraint and launch – the sort of tune that holds you shut, even because it threatens to shatter.” From its intense opening harmonies to the regular, propulsive beat, the monitor captures discomfort and launch in equal measure – a smoldering soul anthem that builds towards hope: “Feeling the rhythm, heading for the sunshine.” It’s each a thesis and a promise.
The vitality lifts on “LOSE,” a fast-paced jam born out of a spontaneous writing session in Ghana with Obed and Joey Turks of SuperJazzClub. “We have been impressed by our high-life influences like Pat Thomas,” Woode says, and you may hear it within the monitor’s buoyant grooves, jazz-laced chords, and communal spirit. “We didn’t overthink the songwriting in any respect,” she provides – and that ease radiates in each beat. It’s a reminder to let go, belief the second, and transfer with freedom.
Watch your again
Take a step off the monitor
Why you so shy
When no person cares
Life ain’t truthful
However you already there
scared on a regular basis
Once they already mendacity
Take it from me
Conceal and deep it
Overthinking
Your at all times free, yeah
Going nowhere
Transfer in circles
It is going to drive you loopy
Don’t fear bout the groove
Don’t fear
Simply fear in the event you lose
Don’t fear bout the groove
Don’t fear
Simply fear in the event you lose
Don’t fear bout the groove
Don’t fear
Simply fear in the event you lose
Don’t fear bout the groove
Don’t fear
Simply fear in the event you lose
“Ama stated” pulls the listener nearer, providing heat, knowledge, and soul-deep encouragement. Written simply earlier than her journey to Ghana, the monitor attracts on a dialog together with her youthful sister, Ama, who reminded her to talk her reality. “I beloved scripting this tune from the narrative of feminine neighborhood and recommendation giving,” Woode explains. Over jazzy textures and mild growth bap rhythms – full with saxophone from her father – she distills the ability of intergenerational care: “Love whoever you’re keen on… Don’t struggle so laborious.”
Subsequent comes “Gentle as a feather,” a hypnotic, heady love tune written in Ghana with Joey and Obed. It’s drenched in need – a darkish, flowing reverie the place obsession meets give up. “I actually loved utilizing the identical methods of jamming and collaborating,” Woode says. Highlife rhythms swirl beneath aching vocals as she confesses, “If something it’s all about you.” It’s that uncommon sort of intimacy that feels each weightless and inescapable.
Written alone in her bed room, “When The Rain Stops” is a second of pure emotional launch. “This was a therapeutic expertise,” Woode shares. “I didn’t overthink – I simply wrote down precisely how I felt about lacking your love and in addition craving for the rain to cease.” The tune shimmers with that precise feeling – of gray skies clearing, of ache processed however not erased. “It’s bittersweet, however I’m pleased with me,” she sings, capturing each the ache and the affirmation in shifting on.
Should you solely knew
Should you solely knew
What it was like
When the ache acquired out
That valuable feeling
When the rain stops
Lady it’s laborious to see
Needed to get again alone two toes
The journey was lengthy
However I made it out
The clouds will at all times carry me
When the rain stops
A Bittersweet excessive (Bittersweet)
A Bittersweet excessive (So bittersweet)
A bittersweet (Oh), a bittersweet
A bittersweet excessive (Oh)
Gotta really feel via the ache (ache)
Accepting all that’s modified (modified)
It’s bittersweet, but I’m pleased with me
I’ve moved that rain (bittersweet)
The EP closes with the aforementioned “Residence Once more,” a young, soulful love tune that doubles as an anthem of self-acceptance. Written after coming back from Ghana and realizing she had lastly come house to herself, the monitor acts as musical closure and thematic catharsis. “All my anxieties on my id had cleared,” she displays. “I felt house once more inside my neighborhood and myself, so I felt it was the right finisher for the EP.” With its glowing melodies and full-hearted resolve, “Residence Once more” is each an ending and a brand new starting – in addition to a private favourite. “The chord that goes with the road ‘it’s like I by no means left’ makes you’re feeling like I’ve lastly acquired to my decision and I’m house regardless, if I’m in Milton Keynes, London, or Ghana,” she says with a smile.
“My spotlight, apart from with the ability to go to Ghana to write down a few of this undertaking, was undoubtedly working with Jordan Rakei. I’m such an enormous OG fan of his, so to songwrite, but in addition discover a widespread floor from our experiences being from blended heritage, was beautiful, too.”
Appears like I’m house once more
Mendacity in your arms
The primary time I felt
The solar after the winter
Oh the winter
Like I’m house once more
It’s like I by no means left
Nonetheless make the espresso the identical
I’m house once more
Arriving on the heels of two extremely regarded EPs that proceed to carry up, and years’ value of laborious work and soul-searching, it’s like I by no means left is each a artistic evolution and a creative rebirth for Nectar Woode. Her songs are united not simply by their sonic heat and genre-blurring glow, however by all of the intensely intimate emotional threads operating via them. Whether or not via buoyant grooves or hushed confessions, she invitations us into her innermost world – a sanctum the place private reality meets musical freedom, and the place each monitor provides a brand new layer to her unfolding story.
The place Head Above Water provided a glimpse into her artistry, it’s like I by no means left dives into the marrow of who Nectar Woode is – as an artist, a daughter, a seeker, and a soul nonetheless blooming. “I hope folks will be effected with any matters that I contact on on this EP,” she shares. “Particularly rising up within the UK – it’s all about discovering your neighborhood that nourishes you and provides you freedom to really feel and share love in any capability. I need folks to really feel heat inside when listening.”
Expertise the total file through our under stream, and peek inside Nectar Woode’s it’s like I by no means left with Atwood Journal as she takes us track-by-track via the music and lyrics of her third EP!
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ONLY HAPPEN
We begin the EP off with this tune that I wrote with Jordan Rakei. We wrote this based mostly off our experiences being from blended heritage and never feeling like you slot in to both facet. We wished to seize that uncomfortable feeling within the songwriting and prod of this tune with the extraordinary harmonies proper firstly and the driving beat. It begins off the entire journey of the EP.
LOSE
Now we quick ahead a bit of bit and enhance the tempo with LOSE. I wrote this with Obed and Joey Turks from Superjazz Membership, and it originated from us simply jamming with one another and never overthinking the songwriting something. We labored on this tune in Ghana and we have been impressed by our high-life influencers like Pat Thomas to hold us via the quick tempo beat and added harmonies and jazz chords alongside the best way.
AMA SAID
Let’s fast-forward every week earlier than setting off on my journey to Ghana – I used to be second-guessing myself and scared about how I’d be welcomed going to Ghana and I remembered an excellent dialog I had with my sister (Ama) who at all times inspired me to talk my thoughts and never maintain something in. I discover that my youthful sister offers the most effective recommendation, and I beloved scripting this tune from the narrative of feminine neighborhood and advise giving. Take heed to your siblings, they’re very clever!
LIGHT AS A FEATHER
One other monitor that me, Joey & Obed wrote while in Ghana. This one is a love tune for certain about not with the ability to get that particular individual out of your head irrespective of how laborious you strive, they’ll at all times have a maintain on you. I actually loved utilizing the identical methods of jamming and collaborating on this one. It’s like a darkish lengthy tune nonetheless hinting at these highlife rhythms too.
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS
I wrote this in my bed room after a session that made me really feel tremendous pissed off as a result of the concepts weren’t flowing as finest as I’d hoped. This was a therapeutic expertise the place I didn’t overthinking and wrote down precisely how I felt about lacking your love and in addition craving for the rain to cease and having hope within the air as soon as it does. I like the odor that the earth offers off as quickly because the rain stops and the darkish clouds disappear – there’s one thing about that feeling I wished to seize.
HOME AGAIN
This was the ultimate tune I wrote for the undertaking, it’s the place to will discover the title of the EP within the second refrain – It’s basically a love tune about re-connecting with a particular individual and immediately feeling at house. I wrote this after getting back from Ghana and all my anxieties on my id having cleared – I felt house once more inside my neighborhood and myself so I felt it was the right finisher for the EP. It’s like I by no means left.
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