Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last (Released 11th July 2025)

Description

//Brownswood Recordings//

£26.99 – Dinked Edition #342 *SOLD OUT*

£26.99 – Indies Purple LP

£25.99 – Black LP

‘Tuff Times Never Last’ is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11-song suite, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss and above all perseverance. 

Initially drawing inspiration from a viral social media meme, co-bandleader 
Onome Edgeworth said of the title’s origins and meaning: “It’s true! Although we’re reflecting on joy and celebration, you realize that a lot of that beauty comes out of challenges and difficulties. It felt like a natural truth that we discovered whilst writing”. 

The accompanying artwork was painted by 
Luci Pina, the acclaimed illustrator whose work has been sought and commissioned by the likes of 
The Cut, 
Soho House,
 DICE, 
Apple Music and 
It’s Nice That. Embedded within the image is 
Kokoroko’s ode to London in the summer. Speaking on its design, co-bandleader 
Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “The remit was summer in London, family and sense of everyone being in a congregation-like audience, and us being the musicians”.

The artwork’s imagery and colour was inspired by feelings of innocence and nostalgia –  coming of age in London and those rare summer nights where everything felt full of hope. The cityscape also pays homage to 
Spike Lee’s 1994 film 
‘Crookyln’and 
Rick Famuyiwa’s 1999 opus 
‘The Wood’. The band saw these movies as heartwarming representations of black family, community and resilience that served as a balm for them as Londoners. Speaking further on this, co-bandleader 
Onome Edgeworth said: “‘Crooklyn’ is very emotional, but also very uplifting. It felt like how I grew up. This album is us sharing our own feelings, hopes and dreams. We didn’t always have those stories in the UK”