Bingkai Karya – After years of earning praise in both the underground and mainstream scenes for her unique, boundary-pushing stream-of-consciousness style, London-based rapper, producer, and poet John Glacier is set to release her debut album, Like A Ribbon, via Young (The xx/FKA twigs/Sampha, etc.) on February 14, 2025. The album captures a journey from a simple life in Hackney to telling stories across the world while striving to maintain balance in an extraordinary existence. Like A Ribbon blends rap, electronic music, post-punk, and more across 11 diverse tracks, including singles like Money Shows(ft. Eartheater), Steady As I Am, Cows Come Home, and Found. Today, a new single, Ocean Stepping, featuring visionary soul singer Sampha, has been released as the final glimpse into the album’s eclectic fusion before its official launch.
The track opens with piano melodies and rich textures crafted by producer Kwes Darko, carrying a seemingly uplifting rhythm. John delivers her signature flow, reflecting on life in her own world, indifferent to outside opinions. As the song reaches its grand climax, Sampha adds a free-flowing, beautiful verse—his vocals intertwining seamlessly with the melody, creating an almost soundscape-like atmosphere.
Ocean Stepping is an uplifting anthem about staying true to oneself and one’s reality without letting others pull you into their world. The song is accompanied by a striking visual directed by renowned filmmaker Gabriel Moses, shot as part of the Brothers Keeper zine in collaboration with i-D. The video features John performing alone, fully immersed in the music, with a subdued yet captivating color palette envisioned by Moses.
Speaking about the video, Gabriel Moses shared: “John is truly herself. That’s what has always drawn me to her—she’s an individual who brings that essence into her work. To me, when you operate like that, that’s what makes an artist compelling.”
A highly respected vocalist whose work was already in high demand even before her debut project SHILOH: Lost For Words was released, John Glacier has redefined UK rap with her diaristic approach, shedding light on daily life and the complexities of human emotion through her unique phrasing and perspective. This sensibility, alongside an externally reinforced mythology, has also captivated the fashion world, making John one of the featured faces and a poet for Daniel Lee’s debut campaign for Burberry. She has also garnered fans from Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, J.W. Anderson, and more.
Her debut album, Like A Ribbon, gives John Glacier a platform to explore her immersive sonic dimensions, tracing her thoughts in a way that is both abstract and deeply felt. Her poetic style takes center stage in this LP, defining modern life as a young woman growing up in Hackney—tied to her birthplace while simultaneously existing on another level.
To celebrate the release of Like A Ribbon, John Glacier will headline a show at Village Underground, London, on February 20. Fans can sign up for presale access HERE. Following a sold-out headline show at ICA London in June, as well as standout performances at Field Day Festival and various European shows
