Song of the Day: Tourist - To Have You Back

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is "To Have You Back" by Tourist from the 2016 album U on Monday Records.

Tourist - To Have You Back (MP3)

Tourist is London producer William Phillips, whose main claim to fame so far has been winning a Grammy for co-writing Sam Smith's "Stay With Me", which may seem surprising considering the lack of actual words used on both "To Have You Back" and the album it comes from, U. Despite this, the emotional intensity and beauty is actually stronger, relying on the beats and grooves to churn a story of the end of a relationship. "U" is meant to represent an incomplete circle and the conclusion of a relationship, but "To Have You Back" and the majority of U still soars, making it both dancefloor and bedroom-ready.

Tourist is currently on an international tour and will be in Seattle in July for the Capitol Hill Block Party. Get your tickets for the sure-to-be-amazing 3-day event here and keep up with Tourist on his website and Facebook page. For now, watch the visually stunning video "To Have You Back":