Cymande Releases Celestial New Single ‘Only One Way’ Featuring Celeste

Cymande released a new single, “Only One Way,” featuring acclaimed British singer-songwriter Celeste. The track is the second offering from Cymande’s forthcoming album, Renascence, due out January 31, 2025 via BMG.

Cymande announced Renascence, produced by Ben Baptie, in October and shared the lead single, “Chasing An Empty Dream,” along with U.S. Winter 2025 Tour dates. The band tapped Jazzie B and Celeste to guest on the new record.

Cymande co-founder Patrick Patterson detailed working with Celeste and string arranger Chris Cameron on the latest Renascence single, “Only One Way.”

“We got together in New York some time ago,” Patterson recalled. “Celeste approached it melodically and lyrically from a perspective we thought was great, we came back to the UK and perfected it. Her performance is wonderful. It deserved an orchestral arrangement and we had an arranger, Chris Cameron, who could elevate it up to the firmament. He did a brilliant arrangement.”

Celeste also shared her reflections on collaborating with Cymande:

“It was a blustery New York day, I had just performed at Carnegie Hall, and was asked if I’d like to meet Cymande at a studio close by to Broadway. I immediately put my hat and coat on and made my way to meet Patrick and Steve at the studio. We spoke for a little while about all being Caribbean and then Patrick began to play the guitar, the words and the melody came so naturally and we cut a vocal that day. We then met some months later to refine it all, in one of the first studios I’d been to many years before on Latimer Road, I think still partly owned by Damon Albarn, but now part of the Miloco studios. That’s when I met Adrian Reid, who made me feel so at ease and kindly offered me some piano lessons in the following months. It all felt a healing and enlightening experience to be around the guys, to hear their stories, see their faces and understand who they were and who they are now. Cymande had remained this great mystery to me, as I am sure they did to many others for a long period of time—these legends of this mystical cross genre—and to hear their account of their journey in music first hand, was affirming and assuring.”

Listen to “Only One Way” below:

Catch Cymande live on their U.S. Tour early next year. Scroll down for their itinerary and ticket info.