From the coastal town of Hastings, England, Sam Wills, a rising force in British R&B and soul-pop, is poised to deepen his global footprint with the release of his poignant new single “Voicenotes” on September 5, 2025, a prelude to his eagerly awaited sophomore album Speak, set to drop on October 3. This milestone coincides with Wills’ surging popularity across Southeast Asia, where his music has resonated strongly in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines—markets he plans to conquer with a 2026 regional tour. With over 450 million streams worldwide from his 2021 debut Breathe and a viral TikTok hit in “Traingazing feat. Honey Mooncie,” Wills is crafting a legacy that blends timeless soul with modern sensibilities, earning him a devoted following and critical acclaim.
“Voicenotes,” the penultimate track on Speak, is a tender meditation on love and loss, co-written with longtime collaborator Phairo. The song captures the ache of listening to old voice messages from a past love, illuminated by the glow of a phone screen in the quiet of night. “It’s about missing someone you’ve parted ways with,” Wills explains, “lying awake, replaying their words.” His falsetto vocals, delicate yet haunting, weave through light-touch production, evoking the elegance of jazz legends like Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday while echoing the emotional depth of Prince and Bobby Caldwell. The track’s lush harmonies and intricate arrangements feel both nostalgic and distinctly contemporary, offering a glimpse into the emotional arc of Speak, which unfolds as a narrative of desperation, love, heartbreak, acceptance, and renewal.
The creation of Speak was a deeply personal journey for Wills, who retreated to a self-built cabin in the woods—where he also crafted Breathe—to confront feelings of stagnation and escapism. Influenced by artists like Dijon, Mk.gee, and Frank Ocean, the album defies genre constraints, pulling from jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and folk to create a sound that’s both expansive and intimate. Following the success of earlier singles “Amelia,” “Coulda Been Us,” and “We Both Know,” Speak builds on the momentum of Breathe, which saw tracks like “Traingazing” explode on social media, amassing millions of streams and cementing Wills’ status as a neo-soul trailblazer. His music has garnered praise from tastemakers like Victoria Jane on BBC Radio 1, Elton John’s Rocket Hour on Apple Music, DJ Target on BBC 1Xtra, and Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2, with features in Complex, Line of Best Fit, and Dummy heralding his artistry.
Wills’ live performances are equally captivating, having electrified crowds at festivals like Cross The Tracks, El Dorado, Reeperbahn, and The Great Escape, as well as sold-out headline shows at London’s Lafayette, Colours Hoxton, and Jazz Café. His stage presence, marked by a modest charisma and multi-instrumental talent, has drawn comparisons to the genre’s greats, blending the soulful charisma of a bedroom producer with the grandeur of R&B’s golden era. As a sought-after collaborator, Wills has lent his talents to luminaries like Jorja Smith, Disclosure, SG Lewis, Kofi Stone, and Lucky Daye, notably contributing to the latter’s Grammy-winning album, further solidifying his industry cred.
The Southeast Asian market, where Wills’ streams are skyrocketing, is a natural next step for his global ascent. His planned 2026 tour across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines taps into a region hungry for authentic, soul-baring music. This follows the precedent set by other artists like My Chemical Romance, who announced a 2026 Southeast Asian tour including stops in Bangkok, Bulacan, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta’s Hammersonic Festival. Wills’ soulful sound, which resonates with the region’s embrace of emotive storytelling—seen in acts like the Philippines’ Cup of Joe or Indonesia’s Yura Yunita—positions him to connect deeply with fans. “Voicenotes” and Speak are set to amplify this connection, offering a soundtrack that speaks to universal experiences of love and loss.
Available on all streaming platforms, “Voicenotes” is a luminous introduction to Speak, an album that promises to redefine Wills’ artistry while expanding his reach. As he prepares to bring his soul-stirring performances to Southeast Asia, Wills continues to blur genre lines, delivering music that’s as reflective as it is danceable. With Speak on the horizon and a tour in the works, this Hastings-born artist is not just riding a wave of streaming success—he’s crafting a movement that invites listeners worldwide to feel, heal, and move forward through the power of song.
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