DOES THE WORLD
REALLY NEED THIS?
“LATE AGAIN BLURS THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN POP AND ALTERNATIVE IN A WAY THAT'S BOTH CHARMING AND VULNERABLE”
- Billboard
“TURNS THE TEXTURES OF SAND-SHIFTING JAZZ FROM RIO INTO AN ELECTRONICALLY ALIVE CORNER OF BROOKLYN”
- Jazztimes
THE DEBUT ALBUM
After releasing three EPs and experiencing a growing relevance in the US and internationally since its first single in 2024, Late Again is ready to expand horizons with his debut album.
"Does The World Really Need This” is a 12-track dream-pop album that blends the ironic cynicism of New York City with the melodic textures of Brazil, the country where he was born and raised. The result is a unique blend of indie music that shares relatable mundane stories through unique lenses that can speak to anyone in between Brooklyn and the beaches of Rio.
From drum & bass urban anthems like “If You Have A Bridge (I'm Buying)” to quaint humorous songs like “All My Exes Moved To The Countryside”, the album aims to expand the narratives explored in the dream pop world with a unique lyric-driven approach.
This is Late Again's most organic set of songs yet. Recorded in Studio G in Brooklyn and Evil Twin in São Paulo, the album gathers drummer Thiago Dom (Duda Beat, Mahmundi), bassist John Lisi (Melt, Twin Brother), and other musicians who also play a huge roll in Late Again's live performances.
The project has visual direction from Gabriel Rollinos (Tame Impala, Men I trust) and Alexandra Thurmond (Parcels, Kehlani), and its cinematic aesthetics play a central role to the album. Does The World Really Need This have 4 music videos in the works and a narrative-driven visual world that will permeate the whole project, from visualizers to vinyls to merch.
ABOUT
Late Again is the dream-pop project of the Brazilian born, Brooklyn-based artist Rafael Melo.
Since his debut in April 2024, Late Again has been steadily building momentum both locally and internationally, drawing over 1 million unique listeners on Spotify, hitting the SubModern charts, and packing shows on the East Coast.
Drawing inspiration from artists ranging from Gorillaz to Caetano Veloso, or Tame Impala to Ryuichi Sakamoto, Late Again sits comfortably alongside dream-pop contemporaries such as Mac DeMarco, Still Woozy, The Marias, and Men I Trust.
Rafael is currently working on Does The World Really Need This, Late Again's debut album.
