London-based collective Kokoroko have released their much-anticipated second studio album, Tuff Times Never Last – a vibrant, life-affirming follow-up to their 2022 debut, Could We Be More.
Three years in the making, Tuff Times Never Last is a celebration of joy, resilience, and the delicate balance between emotional depth and unfiltered playfulness. Described as a record that “holds space for the many dualities that occur in life,” the 11-track album marks a shift in tone for the ensemble, leaning into more upbeat, dancefloor-friendly territory.
From 80s Brit-funk and West African disco to bossa nova, lovers rock, and neo-soul, the album bursts with colour and rhythmic diversity, reflecting the band’s wide-ranging influences and creative ambition. “We tour so much so you want it to be fun,” said co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth. “When all your songs are so serious and intense, you miss out on enjoying yourself sometimes. We asked ourselves the question, ‘What do we want our next years to feel like?’ And we wrote music with the intention of it having colour and a sense of playfulness.”
In tandem with the album’s release, Kokoroko have shared a new single, “Da Duh Dah” — a love song that captures the emotional tug-of-war in trying to hold on to something precious. Drawing sonic inspiration from British soul outfits like Loose Ends and 52nd Street, the track embraces a sleeker, more electronic sound, continuing the band’s evolution beyond their roots.
The music video for “Da Duh Dah,” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. (Blood Orange, Neneh Cherry, Kae Tempest), is a nostalgic, lo-fi visual journey. Shot entirely on film, it features the band reimagined as children roaming the streets of London — a whimsical nod to the album’s themes of innocence and wonder. “Working with Akin is such a pleasure,” Edgeworth shared. “He has a clarity, vision and gift that is very rare and a beautiful light. He managed to bring the song to life!”
With Tuff Times Never Last, Kokoroko reaffirm their place at the forefront of genre-blurring UK jazz, offering not just an album, but a statement of joy and resilience in challenging times.
