Philippa brings her warm, soulful touch to Local Talk with a deep and organic four-tracker built for dancers and dreamers alike.
Local Talk’s final stretch of 2025 is looking strong, and Philippa’s Cloud Walking EP shows exactly why the label continues to set the pace for soulful underground house. Now based in Berlin but carrying the breezy musicality she has championed on Slothboogie and Freerange, Philippa lands with four tracks that merge live instrumentation, sample craft and an emotional depth that feels rare in the current landscape.
Cloud Walking opens the EP with a rich and dreamy Rhodes progression that instantly softens the edges of the room. The Séna vocal works beautifully, floating over the keys with the kind of gentle soulfulness that nods to classic Aretha without ever feeling derivative. The groove is unhurried and warm, the kind of deep house that pulls dancers inward rather than pushing outward.
Hear Me brings a more introspective, late night tone. Philippa’s piano playing sits at the centre, supported by a subtle broken shuffle underneath. The spoken word passages glide across the top, adding narrative texture without crowding the space. Everything feels placed with intention. Nothing is overworked.
Return of the Red Kite shifts into Balearic territory with lush strings, gentle guitar riffs and a piano line that bumps in all the right places. It has that magic Local Talk balance of deep house structure and soulful musicality. You can imagine this holding down a terrace set at golden hour, or warming up a smoky basement just before peak time.
Tuesdays rounds out the EP with a classic Philippa touch. Live musicianship takes the lead again. The groove has a subtle swing and the chords wrap around the drums with real elegance. It is a track with personality and heart, the kind of tune selectors reach for when they want to lift the room without going bigger or louder.
Philippa’s Cloud Walking EP feels like a genuine artistic statement. Deep, soulful, musical and rooted in everything that makes Local Talk such a trusted name. A standout release for the end of the year and one that will live long into 2026.
Pre order ‘Cloud Walking’ via Local Talk now here.
