Music meteorology: predicting the next wave of earworms with the tracks they’re teasing now.
Nearly a decade ago, Rizzle Kicks stepped away from the pop battlefield. After years of self-discovery, development and personal growth, they’re back a changed prospect. With lived experience coupled with a desire to lift those around them, Jordan and Harley represent something that could help provide a soothing balm to 2024’s challenging world.
Words: Dan Harrison.
It’s been nearly a decade since Rizzle Kicks last made their mark on the UK pop scene. Tracks like ‘Down with the Trumpets’ and ‘Mama Do the Hump’ captured a moment in time, their lighthearted and playful energy resonating with a mainstream audience during the early 2010s. But now, in the brave new world of 2024, after an extended hiatus during which Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule faced personal challenges and explored solo projects, Rizzle Kicks are back!(!!) With a new single, ‘Javelin’, this isn’t just about nostalgia and revisiting past successes; Rizzle Kicks 2.0 is a more mature and thoughtful incarnation of the duo, one that feels particularly relevant in today’s cultural landscape.
To appreciate the significance of Rizzle Kicks in the post-millennial pop circus, it’s worth a quick history lesson for those who need one. Formed in 2008 in Brighton, Stephens and Alexander-Sule met as teenagers and began collaborating while attending the BRIT School for Performing Arts – a place that counts as alumni everyone from Adele, Amy Winehouse, FKA Twigs and Tom Holland to Luke from the Kooks, King Krule, Black Midi and, um, Dane Bowers. Their debut album, ‘Stereo Typical’, released in 2011, quickly found an audience thanks to its blend of hip-hop, jazz and pop, paired with witty, socially aware lyrics. Their big singles were not just commercial successes, reaching the UK Top 10. They reflected the duo’s ability to project a more fun and accessible version of the genres they spliced. Shorthand – they made bops.
Rizzle Kicks brought a fresh and vibrant energy, distinguishing themselves with a pop-adjacent style that was both catchy and clever. Their music videos were visually engaging, and their live performances were full of youthful exuberance that attracted a wide-ranging fanbase. Their collab with Olly Murs on the UK Number 1 single ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ further solidified their place in the mainstream. Household names, they were A Big Deal.
Yet, behind the scenes, the pressures of sudden fame were becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Jordan reflected on their early success, acknowledging that it was a whirlwind experience: “We stood there and thought, ‘Is it worth it?’ At the expense of Harley’s peace of mind? My peace of mind? We needed some time to grow up out of the spotlight,” he shared during a recent interview with BBC Newsbeat. By the time they released their second album, ‘Roaring 20s’, in 2013, the duo had begun to feel the strain. Although the album reached Number 3 on the UK charts and demonstrated their growing maturity as artists, the relentless demands of the music industry took a toll on their well-being, leading to a decision that would ultimately reshape their careers.
In 2014, at the height of their success, Rizzle Kicks made the difficult decision to step away from the spotlight. The hiatus allowed both artists to focus on personal growth and explore other creative avenues. Jordan ventured into acting, securing roles in major productions like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Netflix series Feel Good. He became an outspoken advocate for mental health, launching the #IAMWHOLE campaign to combat stigma and sharing his journey through his just-released memoir, Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs (2024).
Harley took a different path, focusing on his role as a father while continuing to make music under the moniker Jimi Charles Moody. His solo work, characterised by a darker, more introspective tone, contrasted with the upbeat pop-rap of Rizzle Kicks. At the same time, he gained recognition as a songwriter, collaborating with artists such as Tom Grennan, Celeste, and Rachel Chinouriri, deepening his musical approach and providing him with the space to work away from the pressures of the spotlight.
It’s 2024 now, though, and Rizzle Kicks were ready to return to the coal face of pop. ‘Javelin’ is a track that marks a clear evolution from their earlier material, in the best possible way. The song is a mature, jazzy R&B/pop fusion, an infectious gem that highlights the duo’s growth both as artists and men. That carefree vibe is still there, but with the weight of lives lived and learned from. Produced by Swindle, known for his work with Greentea Peng, Kojey Radical, and Ant Whiting, ‘Javelin’ retains all the duo’s signature sizzle but adds layers of sophistication that set them up as something altogether new.
Discussing ‘Javelin’, Rizzle Kicks explain in a press release, “‘Javelin’ has essentially informed the direction of the album. ‘Spearhead’ that is. It’s a statement of intent. Guaranteed to lift spirits. That’s what we’re here to do.” They further reveal the context behind the creation of the track, adding, “We wrote ‘Javelin’ in a family home in a good place and open-hearted. It was the first time we worked with Swindle alongside Ant Whiting. Ant was already fam, Swindle is now too.” The lyrics of ‘Javelin’ reveal a renewed sense of purpose, combining the playful wordplay we’ve come to expect with a deeper, more reflective perspective on life. This isn’t just music for entertainment’s sake; it’s music with a message.
The track’s production is evidently influenced by contemporary artists like Anderson.Paak and the late Mac Miller – and there’s more than a touch of the Hard-Life-formerly-Easy-Life about that hook – but ‘Javelin’ doesn’t sound like an attempt to fit into current trends. Instead, it feels like a natural progression from the duo’s earlier work, shaped by everything they’ve learned during their time away.
What makes Rizzle Kicks’ return particularly compelling is that they’re not relying on nostalgia to rekindle their career. While their earlier work helped define the musical DNA of the early 2010s, the duo is focused on the next step, not past glories.
Put bluntly, this isn’t your common nostalgia-driven pop cash-in. Their new music isn’t a rehash of what made them famous; it’s a reflection of their evolution as individuals and artists. The self-awareness and resilience they found in their time away all mix together to make something that resonates deeply in a world that is increasingly aware that it’s okay to say you’re not okay.
In many ways, Rizzle Kicks have evolved into a band that embodies the complexities of today’s world. Their journey – from youthful exuberance to introspective maturity – parallels a broader shift towards valuing authenticity, vulnerability, and personal growth. They’ve navigated the challenges of fame, emerged with a renewed sense of purpose, and are now using their platform to create music that not only entertains but also connects on a deeper level.
With ‘Javelin’ as the introduction, there are also those whispers of an upcoming album – presumably titled ‘Spearhead’. While the full details are still under wraps, there’s a sense that Rizzle Kicks are approaching this new phase with a different set of priorities. Music created for the music, hoping for an audience but not so laser-focused on success above all else. Something sustainable and tangible, an honest reflection of Jordan and Harley as people, and the music they need to make.
Rizzle Kicks don’t feel like two men making a temporary comeback. They seem like they’re here for the long haul, looking to find their tribe and create something nourishing for all parties. Their return proves it’s possible to take time away, grow, and come back both stronger and with substance.
Rizzle Kicks’ reinvention is a parable for a modern world. Javelin isn’t just the prologue to a new story; it’s evidence that experience, reflection, and resilience only add new depths to the art and the artist. Rizzle Kicks 2.0 aren’t just back; they’re better, and they’re ready to show the world why they – and we – still matter.
LINKS IN BIO
THE NEW BOPS AND BANGERS THEY’RE TEASING FOR IMMINENT RELEASE
Tate McRae – It’s ok i’m ok
Release date: TBC, but pre-save is available now
Does Tate McRae, y’know… sleep? Only dropping her most recent full-length late last year, she’s returning with a brand new single, ‘It’s ok i’m ok’. A dance-pop affirmation, she’s already previewed it live with a debut at Madison Square Garden last week. A bubbling bop, it’s perfectly set up for textbook Tate moves, giving a touch of 00s Britney with a 2024 twist. With a chorus that’s sure to trend before the leaves start falling, wherever Tate McRae goes next, it’ll be more than just okay.
mxmtoon – The Situation (feat. Kero Kero Bonito)
Release date: 5th September 2024
mxmtoon’s latest offering ‘The Situation’ sounds like anything but a sticky one. Teaming up with Kero Kero Bonito, Maia looks like she’s set to serve up a confection that’s equal parts introspection and dancefloor invitation. Previews suggest a meeting of vibes that feels like textbook mxmtoon but with KKB’s signature twist. Set to drop on 5th September, it should slot perfectly into those end-of-summer playlists.
MEGAN THEE STALLION & RM – NEVA PLAY
Release date: Friday 6th September 2024
Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS reunite with ‘Neva Play’, a collaboration that’s quite obviously generating plenty of anticipation. Megan has teased that RM’s contribution showcases a side of him fans haven’t seen before, adding a layer of excitement to the track. With their previous collab work on the ‘Butter’ remix still fresh in memory, ‘Neva Play’ is promising to be a bold step forward for both artists when it arrives this coming Friday.
HALSEY – EGO
Release date: Friday 6th September 2024
Halsey’s ‘Ego’ is another intriguing piece of her upcoming album ‘The Great Impersonator’. Previewed at a secret show in London, the track pulls inspiration from the 1990s, delving into the interplay of identity and fame. ‘Ego’ fits seamlessly into Halsey’s broader exploration of how public personas are constructed and the toll it takes on the self, reflecting her ongoing narrative of dissecting the masks we wear in the spotlight, offering a raw, introspective look at the challenges of navigating fame.
CAMILA CABELLO – GODSPEED
Release date: Friday 6th September 2024
Camilla is dropping a new track ‘Godspeed’ this Friday, as part of a new expanded edition of her most recent full-length ‘C,XOXO’. A release that has seen her push at the edges of her pop odyssey, the teasers suggest a song that reflects on moving forward – something fitting to her current narrative. With a performance at the VMAs coming up too, it feels like Camilla isn’t done with this era yet.
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