Ezra Collective chase first UK No.1 with Here Because of Hope

Ezra Collective were tracking to land their first U.K. No. 1 album with Here Because of Hope.

Billboard reported the chart race ahead of the album's release on 18 September 2026. A No. 1 would add to a run that already includes a Mercury Prize and a BRIT Award.

The album is released through Partisan Records, the independent label the band is signed to. Partisan's official store lists 18 September 2026 as the release date and offers the CD on pre-order. The CD comes in a 2-pocket digisleeve, a card fold-out case, with an 8-page booklet.

The Standard LP is a double vinyl set. That means two records in one package. It is housed in a gatefold sleeve, a cover that opens out, with printed inners, according to the Partisan Records store.

Ezra Collective are Femi Koleoso on drums, TJ Koleoso on bass, Ife Ogunjobi on trumpet, James Mollison on saxophone and Joe Armon-Jones on keyboards. They formed at Tomorrow's Warriors, a youth music club in Enfield, north London. Their debut EP, Chapter 7, was released in 2016.

Their earlier album, Where I'm Meant to Be, won the 2023 Mercury Prize, the annual award for the best British or Irish album. It was the first jazz album to win that prize. The band then won group of the year at the 2025 BRIT Awards, Britain's annual pop awards show.

Live dates follow the release. The band are scheduled to play Webster Hall in New York on Nov. 18. They then return to London for four nights at Brixton Academy on March 18-21, organised as a consecutive run at the south London venue.

Partisan's store lists the opening sequence for the Standard LP. It starts with “Part 1 (read by Letitia Wright)”. Then come “Blow Your Trumpet”, “Sweet Echo” and “Don’t Worry”. The next two listed are “Only Love (feat. Pa Salieu)” and “Someday”.

Bandleader Femi Koleoso also discussed working with singer Olivia Dean in an interview with Billboard U.K. That conversation centred on collaboration. Details of the interview were reported by Billboard.

For fans, this means a clear timetable. New music first. Then New York in November. Then London in March.