Song of the Day: Rare by Bullion featuring Carly Rae Jepsen

Bullion is Nathan Jenkins, one of electronic music’s most enduring cult figures - an artist, producer, songwriter and lynchpin quietly to be found connecting artists, genre, and UK subculture. His credits range from Carly Rae Jepsen, Ben Howard, Nilüfer Yanya and Avalon Emerson’s breakout album & The Charm to records for Westerman and Joviale.

Credit: Josh Hight

Avant-pop auteur and renowned producer/songwriter Bullion (aka Nathan Jenkins) announces his new album, Affection, as his first record for Ghostly International. He emerges with “Rare,” an adventurous lead single that adeptly showcases Bullion’s love of pop songwriting, featuring vocals from superstar and previous collaborator, Carly Rae Jepsen.

Affection started life upon Nathan’s move back to London from Lisbon, where he relocated in 2018. Back then, the comfort of the crowd suited him: self-confessedly passive and faltering by nature, the opportunity to exist somewhere without any personal history proved liberating. Returning home, Nathan increasingly found himself reflecting on his place in the world, seeking affection in place of cynicism. Taking your own advice is integral to Bullion’s latest album, where Nathan applies what he’s encouraged fellow artists to do in the studio for years: be open to adventure. Affection steps into a more emotionally-present, often playful space, kicking things off with collaborator Carly Rae Jepsen on "Rare,".

The song emerged during sessions for Jepsen’s recent album in Toronto: high energy turning coy to express something ‘deep in the heart' as Jepsen explains: "Rare, for instance, emerged during sessions for Jepsen’s recent album in Toronto: high energy turning coy to express something ‘deep in the heart’ as Jepsen explains: "I’ve been a fan of Bullion from the first listen. His music just sends me some place good every time. We started writing together over zoom sessions in lock down and then met in real life in Toronto, London and LA. When I first reached out to him, I said 'it would be fun to see how your world of music and mine could play together' and it’s been one of the coolest discoveries. To be featured on Rare is such a sweet start to 2024. And as a fan still, I’m really looking forward to this whole album."

Affection will be released on April 26, 2024. Hear the dreamy new single below: