Be Here Soon (iamamiwhoami album)
Be Here Soon is the fourth studio album by Swedish audiovisual project iamamiwhoami, consisting of singer and songwriter Jonna Lee and record producer Claes Björklund. It was released on 3 June 2022 on Lee's label To whom it may concern.[2] It is the first studio album from the project in eight years.
| Be Here Soon | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 June 2022 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:01 | |||
| Label | To whom it may concern. | |||
| Producer | Claes Björklund, ionnalee | |||
| Iamamiwhoami chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Be Here Soon | ||||
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The album took a more folk-inspired direction than previous projects from the group, returning to Lee's roots as a solo artist.[3] The album's visuals contain themes such as Lee's struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as her pregnancy.[4]
Release
The visual album was announced by Lee through social media on 31 March 2022.[5] The album's first chapter and lead single "Don't Wait for Me" was released on the same day, with each subsequent chapter being released weekly. The announcement was largely a surprise, with no previous information from any of the crew hinting towards another iamamiwhoami album.
The release date of the album was chosen before Lee knew she was pregnant, and the release date coincidentally aligned with her due date. Lee's baby was born on 25 May 2022; Be Here Soon came out in digital format on June 3.[6]
Physical editions of Be Here Soon were released in limited CD+DVD and 12-inch vinyl LP formats, as well as a CD, DVD and LP collectors bundle with exclusive items available exclusively on To whom it may concern.'s website, originally slated for a September 2022 release.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| GAFFA.dk |  [8] |
| GAFFA.se |  [9] |
| Higher Plain Music | 8.5/10[10] |
| Jenesaispop | [11] |
| Mojo | [12] |
Be Here Soon received generally positive reviews. Simon Heggum of Gaffa Denmark was particularly enthusiastic, naming the album a "folktronic masterpiece" containing Lee's "strongest vocal performance to date".[8]
Tour background
Following the album's release, Lee announced the first leg of a world tour on her social media; the tour started in Amsterdam on 26 February 2023 and continued on in the United States and Canada throughout April and May 2023.[13] iamamiwhoami performed with a full band for the first time in ten years and a few special guests such as Imogen Heap joined Lee on stage on specific dates.[14]
Tour dates
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening act | Special guest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 February 2023 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Paradiso Noord | Mavica | |
| 2 March 2023 | London | United Kingdom | EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) | Mavica Jenny Wilson |
Imogen Heap Tove Skeidsvoll |
| 8 March 2023 | Berlin | Germany | Club Gretchen | Jenny Wilson | |
| 12 April 2023 | Philadelphia | United States | The Foundry | Luminous Kid | |
| 14 April 2023 | Brooklyn | Elsewhere | |||
| 16 April 2023 | Boston | Paradise Rock Club | |||
| 18 April 2023 | Montreal | Canada | Théâtre Fairmount | Luminous Kid Tess Roby |
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| 19 April 2023 | Toronto | Opera House | |||
| 21 April 2023 | Chicago | United States | Metro | Luminous Kid | |
| 24 April 2023 | Minneapolis | Fine Line | |||
| 26 April 2023 | Denver | Marquis Theater | |||
| 29 April 2023 | Los Angeles | Fonda Theatre | Zola Jesus TR/ST | ||
| 2 May 2023 | San Francisco | Great American Music Hall | Vander Von Odd | ||
| 4 May 2023 | Portland | Wonder Ballroom | |||
| 5 May 2023 | Seattle | The Showbox | |||
| 7 May 2023 | Vancouver | Canada | The Hollywood | ||
| 16 August 2023 | Vadstena | Sweden | Shakespearefabriken | Jenny Wilson | Zola Jesus |
| 17 August 2023 | |||||
| 18 August 2023 | |||||
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jonna Lee and Claes Björklund
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Don't Wait for Me" | 3:17 |
| 2. | "Canyon" (featuring Lars Winnerbäck) | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Zeven" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "I Tenacious" | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Changes" | 4:18 |
| 6. | "Flying or Falling" | 3:44 |
| 7. | "A Thousand Years" | 5:09 |
| 8. | "Thunder Lightning" | 5:04 |
| 9. | "Call My Name" | 3:49 |
| 10. | "Walking on Air" | 4:50 |
| Total length: | 41:01 | |
References
- Murray, Robin (April 28, 2022). "iamamiwhoami Returns to Her Core Influences for "Changes"". Clash. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- Murray, Robin (31 March 2022). "iamamiwhoami Announces New Album 'Be Here Soon'". Clash. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- "In Conversation: iamamiwhoami Interviewed". ClashMusic. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- Kenneally, Cerys (31 March 2022). "iamamiwhoami announces new audiovisual album with lead single 'Don't Wait for Me'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- Jonna Lee [@ionnalee] (31 March 2022). "overjoyed to announce our latest project: iamamiwhoami; Be Here Soon (audiovisual album) due june 3" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 April 2022 – via Twitter.
- Sawdey, Evan (8 June 2022). "Time is Iamamiwhoami's Worst Enemy and Best Friend on Be Here Soon". PopMatters. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- "iamamiwhoami - Be Here Soon". To whom it may concern. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- Heggum, Simon (June 15, 2022). "iamamiwhoami: ANMELDELSE: Folktronisk mesterværk fra svensk pops skjulte stjerner". Gaffa.dk. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- Ankersen, Frederik (August 31, 2022). "Be Here Soon: "Ett hyperintimt självutlämnande"". Gaffa.se. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- Smith, Simon (1 September 2022). "iamamiwhoami – Be Here Soon Review". Higher Plain Music. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- Bardají, Jordi (24 June 2022). "Critica de Be Here Soon, 4° album de iamamiwhoami". Jenesaispop. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- "Iamamiwhoami - Be Here Soon". Mojo. July 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- Jonna Lee [@ionnalee] (3 June 2022). "announcing the first dates of the Be Here Soon 2023 world tour. calling at Europe, the US, and Canada. tickets on sale june 10 at iamamiwhoami.se can't wait to come out to play again and to see you after all this time 🤍 more dates to come. let me know where you are at" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 March 2023 – via Twitter.
- Imogen Heap [@imogenheap] (10 March 2023). "Loved meeting you in person finally @ionnalee. Was magic to be both on and off stage with you and also as a new mum, giving your all to everyone, fan, friends and family alike. Inspiring brilliant woman. Thanks for having it so close to my home too at EartH Hackney!" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 March 2023 – via Twitter.
- Jonna Lee [@ionnalee] (27 February 2023). "was on a high from last nights show in amsterdam but am now devasted as we're stuck in an airport, unable to make it in time for our show in glasgow tonight. i'm so sorry to everyone who was coming out to see us tonight. breaks my heart. we are working on a replacing show. xx" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 March 2023 – via Twitter.