Moses Boyd Releases Songs for Sinners, a Gospel-Rooted Second Album

Mercury Prize-shortlisted drummer, composer and producer Moses Boyd has released Songs for Sinners, his long-awaited second studio album, via Exodus. Shore Fire Media announced the release on Oct. 30, calling the 12-track record a deeply personal exploration of faith that expands contemporary jazz with gospel, sound-system culture and contemporary production.

Boyd, raised in a Pentecostal household, has said the album is a sound he has wanted to create since he first got into music. "Being surrounded by Gospel music my whole life then finding my way through Jazz and sound system culture. I'm extremely proud I've managed to execute the vision I had," he said in the Shore Fire release. He wrote every lyric himself. Guests include London vocalist Raelle on "War," Steam Down's SHANTÉH on "More To Life," Amber-Simone on "Criticise" and U.S. rapper Chuck Strangers; Boyd's own family voices form a "kitchen choir" recorded at home alongside professional gospel singers.

The album was previewed by the singles "Criticise," "Say Yeah" and "More To Life." Boyd recently performed "Say Yeah" and "More To Life" with an expanded ensemble on BBC Two's Later… with Jools Holland, his solo UK television debut, according to the same release. Rolling Stone UK described the project as a "stunning gospel return," and Jazzwise gave it four stars, writing that by embracing everything else he loves, Boyd's "innovative hybrid has taken UK jazz forward."

Songs for Sinners follows Boyd's 2020 Mercury Prize-nominated debut Dark Matter. Shore Fire notes his work with Sampha, Kelsey Lu, Sons of Kemet, Zara McFarlane, Little Simz, Four Tet and others, and his co-leadership of Binker and Moses with saxophonist Binker Golding. A European and UK tour in support of the album is set for March and April 2027, including London's KOKO on April 1.

The full tracklist runs: "Precious," "War" featuring Raelle, "More To Life" featuring Shantéh, "Say Yeah," "Saviour," "Criticise" featuring Amber-Simone, "Praise," "Guess I'll Be Alright," "I Surrender All (Interlude)," "I Surrender," "It Is Well" and "I Believe." A video for "War" was released with the album.