UMI has always lived in the space between dualities—gentle but fearless, spiritual yet grounded—and on her new single “HARD TRUTHS,” she invites listeners into that liminal zone once again. Featuring four-time Grammy nominee 6LACK, the track marks her debut release under Epic Records and showcases her most emotionally precise songwriting to date.

Produced with an airy touch but rooted in sharp lyrical detail, “HARD TRUTHS” is a lowkey gut punch. UMI floats above sparse, atmospheric production with her signature calm clarity, while 6LACK’s grounded, world-worn verse balances her lightness. Together, they unspool themes of emotional transparency, material disillusionment, and the discomfort that comes with looking inward. “It’s about the lies we tell ourselves,” UMI explains. “And the quiet courage it takes to stop.”

The accompanying music video, directed by Sahra Zadat, is as introspective as the song itself—lush, slow-burning, and deeply human. There’s no artifice here, no oversaturation or gloss. Just two artists navigating their inner terrain, occasionally intersecting and illuminating each other.

The release follows a banner year for UMI, who spent 2024 opening for Jhené Aiko on The Magic Hour Tour, hosting her U+MI meditation sessions across the country, and dropping her critically acclaimed EP talking to the wind. That project earned praise from Pitchfork for its “balance of bravado and vulnerability,” while Vulture called it “an ambient balm.”

But “HARD TRUTHS” signals something bigger: a new era, a new label, and a louder voice—still peaceful, but now electrified. Epic Records president Ezekiel Lewis calls UMI “Peaceful and Electrifying,” a fitting descriptor for an artist who can center you with a breath, then challenge you with a verse. “Everyone wants peace,” he says. “Everyone wants excitement. So, we believe that everyone who finds UMI, will want UMI.”

The single also adds to UMI’s genre-fluid, cross-cultural streak of collaborations—building on recent tracks with V of BTS (“wherever u r”), Baekhyun of EXO (“Do What You Do”), Raveena (“Lose My Focus”), and more. “wherever u r” in particular made waves worldwide, debuting at #1 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales and charting in over 100 countries on iTunes, showcasing her global appeal without sacrificing artistic integrity.

If “HARD TRUTHS” is any indication, UMI is no longer emerging—she’s arrived. And she’s doing so on her own terms: soft, steady, and deeply self-aware.

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.