Los Angeles-based, Seattle-born artist UMI has announced her long-awaited new album people stories, due out August 22 via Epic Records. The record explores the universal threads that connect us all through stories of ego, identity, healing, and human connection.
Blending her signature fusion of R&B, neo-soul, folk, and pop, UMI invites listeners into a sonic landscape that’s as intimate as a journal entry. people stories draws on real-life experiences shared by friends, fans, and the artist herself, woven together with raw emotion, poetic lyricism, and ambient textures recorded in her own home.
“I wanted to be the storyteller, the vessel to express everyone’s stories,” UMI shares. “While writing this album, I found myself in every story I was expressing. For me, learning to accept even the darkest colors of life was deeply healing and possible through relating to others.”
To celebrate the announcement, UMI has released two new songs: the dreamlike “SOMEWHERE NEW” and “WHAT NOW,” following her recent collaborations “10AM” and “HARD TRUTHS” featuring 6LACK. These latest tracks offer a preview of the emotional depth and sonic warmth that defines the forthcoming project.
people stories was crafted with the intent of presence, imperfection, and reflection. Recorded in part in her home studio, ambient sounds like creaking doors and humming air conditioners were intentionally left in—capturing life in its unedited form. The album even includes voice memos from her therapist, tying together themes of growth and emotional grounding.
“This album has taught me that my worth is not in perfection,” UMI says. “I’m kind of curious to see where releasing perfection can take me in my life.”
