Newton Faulkner – a single, an album and a UK tour

Newton Faulkner has unveiled ‘What Took You So Long’ on Cooking Vinyl – the track that defines his creative rebirth.

The track itself represents a triumph two decades in the making –embodying the fearless creativity that’s emerged since he symbolically cut off his iconic dreadlocks on stage in November 2024 in support of Teenage Cancer Trust. (NOTE Leeds Living’s images here were taken in the dreadlock years!)

Newton’s 8th Studio Album ‘OCTOPUS’ with Cooking Vinyl will be released on 19th September 2025
Pre-Order Album  – OCTOPUS

Earlier this year, Newton Faulkner announced an exciting partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust to accompany ‘What Took You So Long’. The collaboration features limited edition stamped “bootleg” CDs of his upcoming album ‘OCTOPUS’ (19th September 2025) plus exclusive stripped back tracks, with all proceeds supporting the charity’s vital work.

‘What Took You So Long’ carries the weight of a twenty-year journey—from its initial conception to its current incarnation as the cornerstone of Faulkner’s upcoming album ‘OCTOPUS’. Co-written and produced with longtime collaborator Adj, whom Faulkner first met two decades ago, the track embodies the kind of fearless creativity that emerges when an artist stops seeking external validation.

Newton “This track set the tone for me for the whole record. It came in early, and when I listened to it for the first time with fresh ears the next day, I remember thinking, ‘This! This is the kind of record I want to make!’ It was decades in the making in many ways. I first met Adj (co-writer and producer) about 20 years ago. The verse idea – I remember playing it to an A&R team at least a decade ago – and they looked at me like I was totally nuts, asked what was wrong with me, and the idea got shelved. Now I don’t listen to anyone when it comes to making music that I love. Very glad I dusted it off. In many ways… what took me so long?”

The single’s journey from rejected concept to career-defining moment perfectly encapsulates Faulkners current creative phase—one marked by his symbolic break from the past when he cut off his iconic dreadlocks on stage at London’s Islington Assembly Hall in November 2024. That moment of liberation continues to fuel his most authentic work yet.

Following the bold statements of ‘Alright Alright Alright’ and the collaborative triumph of ‘Hunting Season (feat. Lissie & Los Bitchos)’, ‘What Took You So Long’ proves that this double platinum artist’s creative renaissance is no flash in the pan. Crafted in his East London studio sanctuary, the track showcases the full spectrum of Faulkner’s sonic evolution—from the acoustic foundations that built his reputation to the electronic experimentation that now defines his forward momentum.‘What Took You So Long’ will be available across all streaming platforms from 15th August, serving as another tantalizing preview of the full album ‘OCTOPUS’, set for release 19th September 2025 via Cooking Vinyl Records.

Sometimes the best things are worth the wait. Sometimes they’re worth two decades.

As part of the new album campaign a series of collector’s edition CDs and vinyl have been made available to pre-order across Amazon, HMV, indie retail and Newton’s store. Each edition features exclusive, one-of-a-kind artwork created especially for this project – making them a must-have for fans and collectors alike.

TRACKLISTAlright Alright Alright (feat. Bloom Twins)What Took You So LongSpirit Meets The BoneSnakes & LaddersHonest To GodYou Make It Look So EasyDon’t Make Me BegDear LifeBetter For MeGravitationalTic Tac ToeHunting Season (feat. Lissie & Los Bitchos)Better For YouGratitude

IN STORE DATES:

19th Sept – HMV, Birmingham (5pm)

20th Sept – Vinilo, Southampton (1pm)

20th Sept – Resident, Brighton (6:30pm)

21st Sept – Rough Trade, Nottingham (6pm) *SOLD OUT*

22nd Sept – Vinyl Whistle, Leeds (1pm)

22nd Sept – Wax & Beans, Bury (7:30pm) *SOLD OUT*

23rd Sept – Jacaranda, Liverpool (6pm)

24th Sept – Rough Trade, Bristol (6:30pm) *SOLD OUT*

25th Sept – Rough Trade East, London (7pm)

26th Sept – St Peters Church, Marlborough (7:30pm)

LIVE

Mon 13^th Oct – Norwich, The Waterfront

Tues 14^th Oct – Manchester – Academy 3

Wed 15^th Oct – Cardiff – Tramshed

Thurs 16^th – Birmingham – Academy 2

Sat 18^th Oct – Exeter – Lemon Grove

Sun 19^th Oct – Bath – Komedia

Mon 20^th Oct – Cambridge – Junction

Wed 22^nd Oct – Leeds – Project House

Thurs 23th Oct – Newcastle – Northumbria Student Union

Sat 25^th Oct – Aberdeen – OGV Podium

Sun 26^th Oct – Glasgow – SWG3

Tues 28^th Oct – Liverpool – Arts Club Theatre

Wed 29^th Oct – Leicester – 02 Academy 2

Thurs 30^th Oct – London – Earth Concert Hall

Thurs 13^th Nov – Belfast – Limelight 1

Sat 15^th Nov – Dublin – The Ambassador

Sun 16^th Nov – Cork – Cyprus Avenue

NEWTON FAULKNER

INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY
Main image by Erin CooperJones. Taken for Leeds Living at The Wardrobe Leeds May 2021.