Bonobo has unveiled his latest single, “Always on Your Side“, a soulful collaboration with acclaimed British singer-songwriter Joy Crookes, offering another glimpse into his forthcoming album Distance in Static, which arrives on 11 September via Ninja Tune.
Released on 3 August 2026 alongside an official music video, “Always on Your Side” highlights the more intimate and melancholic side of Simon Green’s next full-length project. The accompanying visual features both Bonobo and Crookes, blending performance footage with behind-the-scenes moments from the recording process.
The track follows the previously released “Fire on the Water“, featuring Arooj Aftab, and continues to showcase the collaborative spirit of Distance in Static. The album also includes appearances from Nilüfer Yanya, Ichiko Aoba, Nicole Miglis of Hundred Waters, Aanya Martin and Kanako Yamamoto.
While songs like “Always on Your Side” explore Bonobo’s reflective songwriting, recent singles “Drift” and “Me and You” lean further into the producer’s club-focused instincts, reinforcing the duality that has long defined his career as both an emotive composer and dancefloor curator.
Recorded across Los Angeles, Tokyo, London and California, Distance in Static reflects Bonobo’s increasingly global approach to production. A significant portion of the album was completed during a stay at Neil Young’s legendary Broken Arrow Ranch, where Green spent several weeks refining the record.
The project incorporates lyrics in English, Urdu and Japanese while weaving together historic Iranian samples, guzheng recordings and Bonobo’s signature textured electronic production. Visually, the album marks a departure from the landscape-inspired artwork of previous releases, instead drawing on microscopic photography by renowned photomicrographer John I. Koivula. The imagery was developed in collaboration with designer Trevor Jackson, creating abstract crystalline worlds that mirror the album’s sonic depth.
Watch the music video for “Always on Your Side“:
