END. TALKS: The Making of “hopefully !” with Loyle Carner at END. London

On a balmy evening in late June, END. and New Balance invited South London’s finest, Loyle Carner, to the British retailer’s London flagship store for the latest edition of END. Talks. Ahead of the release of Carner’s hotly-anticipated new album, hopefully !, attendees were invited to make themselves comfy on a sea of pillows, with END.’s store transformed into a replica version of the pillow and sheet forts made by Carner with his kids – the perfect environment to explore a deeply personal and family-oriented album.

Hosted by Mikey Krzyzanowski, this edition of END. Talks offered an intimate evening pulling back the curtain on the creative process behind hopefully !, with Carner joined by the producers he worked with on the album, Avi Barath and Nick Mills. Reflecting on their experiences of working together, the four panel guests revealed the inner workings behind the writing process, from initial sketches and sketching out ideas to adding the finishing touches to fully realised tracks.

Focusing on specific tracks from hopefully !, Carner played never-before-heard demo versions of tracks from the album, chronicling the changes throughout the creative process, before playing the album versions of the tracks. Offering a rare glimpse into the writing and recording process, fans were able hear the backstories behind tracks such as lyin, about time, and all I need, building out the rich tapestry of emotions, influences and styles that Carner was channeling on the record. Following the in-depth and revealing talk, Carner made sure he was able to connect even further with the audience, answering a Q&A before taking the time to chat with the crowd, sign albums and take photos with attendees as the summer heat subsided.