Listen
Pieces of a Man

“Listen” is the second single from Manchester soul collective, Pieces of a Man, taken from their forthcoming debut album Made In Pieces (out 12th July). “Listen” oozes funk and soul confidence with a deep groove, while thematically tackling communication, the song came about from frontman/synth/talkboxer To!u’s personal struggle of coming out to his mother: “It went terribly, but we build from brokenness.”

With both To!u and Pils (Keyboards/Sax) going through major life changes, each songwriter chose to spill some truths to loved ones, past and present throughout the song: “The overriding theme is about being listened to and understood, rather than merely heard.” To!u says. “Overall, the track acknowledges that freedom to just ‘be’ facilitates openness. It may be harder to exist vulnerably in honesty and integrity, but in the end it’s the only way to move forward.”

Pushing past the confines of conventional soul, the progressive outfit deliver a lavish and finely crafted sound combining tight brass horn licks, G-funk synths and Rhodes riffs – all rhythmically grating against one another.

Accompanying the single is a live studio session video of “Listen” filmed at Oxygene Studios in Manchester – a space where the band recorded live elements of their album.