Jodie Abacus just celebrated a birthday and today he shares “Meet Me In The Middle” from his upcoming Mild Cartoon Violence EP. The UK pop/R&B artist sings with intention over the bright synth and rhythm arrangement that sounds like summer. Mild Cartoon Violence comes out tomorrow.

[youtube id=”sfgi8K2w6cM”] Jodie Abacus has a new single called “Keep Your Head Down” and he said his inspiration came from a TV show about refugees.

“I started writing this song after I woke up one morning in my hotel room in LA and started watching a segment on refugees. That same day I had a studio session with Nick Ruth and SOHN so I went in the studio with this idea in my head. I wanted to sympathise and put myself in their shoes to express what it could be like to flee your country with your family in the midst of war and destruction in the hopes of finding safety in a Western country, only to not be accepted there. That absolute feeling of total unease and desperation…We’re safe here, but we can only imagine”.

The south London singer-songwriter is preparing for the release of his solo album on February 10th.

[youtube id=”r0zecooRSpw”] Jodie Abacus’ video for “I’ll Be That Friend” precedes the actual release of the song which is due September 2nd. The video’s concept comes from the 2015 Youtube video “People React To Being Called Beautiful.” Abacus wrote the song after suffering through heartbreak and finding consolation in his music. The singer-songwriter is finishing his debut album and will tour his native UK after supporting Laura Mvula on festival dates around Europe.

Jodie Abacus’s “Hot Kitchen” gets a remix from house veteran Armand Van Helden. The South London native released his For Real Life And Not Pretend four-song EP last month and he is getting ready to embark on a European tour with Jamie Woon this Spring.