Fabiana Palladino

For more or less a brand new artist, Fabiana Palladino faces an unusual level of anticipation. The London musician broke out in 2017 as one of the Paul Institute’s founding artists after her shadowy, classicist R&B reached Jai Paul, who started the label alongside his brother AK Paul. Releasing just three singles in four years, she caught the ear of critics – Pitchfork likened “Mystery” to “a scratch track from a big-budget 80s studio that’s been smuggled out on reel-to-reel tape” – but Palladino’s output remained slight while she worked as an in-demand session musician for the likes of Jessie Ware, cycling from one tour to the next. This year, she formed part of Jai’s band for his live debut (which she also supported), the most wildly awaited performances in years.

All the while, she was intensively working on her debut solo album in secret. Written and produced by Palladino, it has been a long-time coming, partially because of her playing commitments but also because of her perfectionism. “I have a horrible fear of putting something out and regretting it,” she admits. “I Care” is Palladino’s first musical offering. Released in November 2023, the single is a collaborative project with Jai Paul. It’s a track that was written in the wake of the end of a long relationship, it subverts the classic romantic Motown duets of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell to unpick normativity in relationships.