WATCH: R&B Singer Songwriter UMI Talks New EP “talking to the wind”

After the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Forest in the City, fans have been eagerly awaiting UMI‘s next big project. And the wait is finally over! talking to the wind is out now and is already making waves!

The EP has been described as “enough to cheer audiences up instantaneously,” by V Magazine and British Vogue says her “lo-fi, alternative, laid back, R&B style is the soundtrack to those days spent at the beach and carefree summers in LA and Venice Beach.”

GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos was joined by GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist UMI to talk about this exciting new chapter.

“I’ve been waiting so long for this to come out and I’m just happy to have it out in the world,” she tells Ramos.

UMI caught the world’s attention in late December of 2023 with the release of “wherever u r,” a single featuring international superstar V of BTS fame. “It was so surreal because personally, I’ve been a fan of V and I’ve been a fan of BTS since I was like in middle school and high school. So the fan girl in me was like ‘This is crazy.’ And then the artist in me was also like, ‘This is crazy,'” they reveal. “He’s such a soulful person, he’s very artistic.”

On talking to the wind, UMI shares that, “I wrote it at a time where I personally was really lost in my own direction. And I was encouraged by my inspiration just to create.” She goes on to say, “This project has taught me to be more present and have trust in life and I hope that it can offer that reminder for people too.”

“I’m really happy to be alive at a time right now where I feel so safe to express my identity and I feel really grateful for all the different communities that support that,” they share about being openly queer.

“happy im” is a song she wrote for her partner. “I wrote it about her because she’s taught me so much about embracing joy and not overthinking life.”

UMI talks about how grateful she is to have her partner by her side during this exciting, yet overwhelming time in her life. “I think in those moments where your ego and your thoughts get crazy, having a grounded person in your life really helps to bring you back to your center.”

On her biggest music inspiration, UMI reveals it isn’t a person, but “nature.” She speaks about how growing up in Seattle, deep in the forest, “the folkiness of nature and that acoustic earthiness intuitively just comes through.”

UMI is excited to be heading out to Australia to tour for the first time! Check out UMI’s upcoming tour dates and news here.

Stream talking to the wind now!