After six years of deliberate silence, Raphael Saadiq emerged from his Los Angeles home studio last Tuesday with a handwritten letter posted to his official website — and the music world stopped.

The letter announced the imminent arrival of his seventh studio album, tentatively titled Bloodlines, due for release on June 14th. “I wasn’t ready before,” Saadiq wrote. “Every time I sat down to make music in the last few years, it felt dishonest. I needed to live more, lose more, love more. Now I’m ready.”

Recorded Live in New Orleans

According to sources close to the project, the album was recorded over three months at the legendary Esplanade Studios in New Orleans, with a 22-piece ensemble that included brass players from the Rebirth Brass Band and string arrangers who have worked with both Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.

The choice of New Orleans is significant. Saadiq has spoken about his deep connection to the city — his grandmother was from the Tremé neighborhood — and the influence of second-line rhythms on his production style throughout his career.

Release Plan and Tour

The June 14th release will be preceded by a lead single arriving April 1st. A North American and European tour has been tentatively scheduled for late summer and fall, with venue sizes in the 2,000–5,000 seat range. Pre-orders for a limited vinyl edition — pressed on gold wax — open the same day as the single. Only 5,000 copies will be made available globally.