Kamasi Washington returns with two Heaven and Earth singles and a show at the Electric Factory

Kamasi Washington | photo by Koof Ibi Umoren for WXPN

Visionary musician and saxophone king Kamasi Washington has announced his latest release, and it’s ambitious one. The artist will release a 16-track double album, called Heaven and Earth, this June, and in the meantime has shared two new singles.

“The Space Travelers Lullaby” and “Fists of Fury” come from the heaven side and the earth side, respectively, of the double LP, and each lengthy tune feels like a world of its own. The two separate halves of the new album work together — not in opposition or contradiction, but rather in a way that sees Washington challenging the reality of the world from a cosmic mindset.

Of the forthcoming album, Washington said in a press release:

“‘The world that my mind lives in, lives in my mind.’ This idea inspired me to make this album Heaven and Earth. The reality we experience is a mere creation of our consciousness, but our consciousness creates this reality based on those very same experiences. We are simultaneously the creators of our personal universe and creations of our personal universe. The Earth side of this album represents the world as I see it outwardly, the world that I am a part of. The Heaven side of this album represents the world as I see it inwardly, the world that is a part of me. Who I am and the choices I make lie somewhere in between.”

Both new tracks are accompanied by minute-long videos created by British artist and director Jenn Nkiru — watch below. These visuals reportedly precede a more expansive Heaven and Earth to be released later this year.

Heaven and Earth is out June 22. Kamasi Washington’s extensive upcoming tour makes a Philly stop at the Electric Factory on November 9. Find more information on the XPN Concert Calendar. Check out the videos below and listen to the songs in their full 10-minute-long glory via streaming services.