[Cover photo credit to Kendra Irene]

Soul and Jazz vocalist Alicia Waller has announced the upcoming release of her debut album, Louder, Then, out on May 29, 2026. Waller is a classically trained singer with a masters in international relations and music diplomacy, and her new album explores Black music in America. The album was “conceived in dialogue with a variety of musical idioms.” Alongside the announcement, Waller has shared “My Day, Pt. II (If for the first time)”.

Regarding her return to Jazz and Soul traditions, Waller says:

I’d been looking at music from across the African diaspora as part of my study of ‘vernacular music.’ After a period examining the incredible diversity of Black sound globally, I became curious about what it would mean to contribute my own cultural experience to the practice. This eventually led to writing in my mother tongue, which resulted in the creation of this project and its predecessor. Through both, my aim has been to explore African-American vernacular musics alongside other forms, influences, and themes that have informed my journey along the way. 

The album was co-Produced by bassist/arranger Marcos Varela (Mingus Big Band, Billy Hart and Tyshawn Sory). Following her 2020 EP, Some Hidden Treasure, the Waller and Varela’s partnership deepened, working towards “world building” in songs.

Beyond her influences, Waller’s music “aims to defy the false stereotypes of a female artist, opting for a sound that is heavy, driven and rebellious.”