Blab Music
Nick Hakim to Release New Album I Can See on July 24, 2026, with Title-Track Video and European Tour
Queens‑based singer‑songwriter Nick Hakim is set to unveil his fourth studio album, I Can See, on July 24, 2026. The release will launch alongside the title track, which the artist has called the emotional core of the project. A striking music video, directed by Terrence Nance of Random Acts of Flyness, was filmed in Baltimore’s Lalibela community art space, adding a visual layer to the song’s introspective narrative.
The album is the product of a five‑year creative odyssey that began after Hakim’s contract with his former label dissolved and a long‑term relationship ended. Initial ideas were captured in bedroom demos before the project was refined at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and at multiple studios across New York City. The record features seasoned collaborators, including producer Andrew Sarlo—known for his work with Dijon and Bon Iver—and mastering engineer Heba Kadry, whose résumé includes Björk, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Gorillaz.
In explaining the title track’s importance, Hakim said, “I can’t imagine beginning this album without this track. It’s the entry point of this collection of songs. It felt like an experiment of how time moves, and we change, but how you can retain a feeling from the sound or tone of music you’ve made or love. The initial demo of this song took 20 minutes to make, but the patience and time it took to ‘finish’ was worth every moment.” The single’s release marks the first official single from the album, following the dual single launch of “Real Here Now” and “Water” in May.
Lyrically, the record delves into artistic and romantic upheaval, the pull of generational family ties, and the interweaving of memory and present. Critics have highlighted the album’s meticulous detail and cathartic honesty, noting how tracks blend soulful melodies with psychedelic, lo‑fi textures. The earlier singles “Real Here Now” and “Water” were described as “ember‑burning slow burners” that foreshadow the album’s thematic direction.
To promote the new release, Hakim will headline a European and UK tour later this year. The tour will kick off on October 28 at the Village Underground in London, then move to Dublin, Glasgow, Birmingham, Paris, Berlin and additional venues across the continent. Ticket sales will open Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
With I Can See slated for a late‑July release, listeners can anticipate a collection that reflects a period of personal transition and artistic growth. The album’s production, collaborative network and forthcoming tour illustrate Hakim’s continued evolution as a Queens‑rooted musician reaching a broader international audience.
The album is the product of a five‑year creative odyssey that began after Hakim’s contract with his former label dissolved and a long‑term relationship ended. Initial ideas were captured in bedroom demos before the project was refined at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and at multiple studios across New York City. The record features seasoned collaborators, including producer Andrew Sarlo—known for his work with Dijon and Bon Iver—and mastering engineer Heba Kadry, whose résumé includes Björk, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Gorillaz.
In explaining the title track’s importance, Hakim said, “I can’t imagine beginning this album without this track. It’s the entry point of this collection of songs. It felt like an experiment of how time moves, and we change, but how you can retain a feeling from the sound or tone of music you’ve made or love. The initial demo of this song took 20 minutes to make, but the patience and time it took to ‘finish’ was worth every moment.” The single’s release marks the first official single from the album, following the dual single launch of “Real Here Now” and “Water” in May.
Lyrically, the record delves into artistic and romantic upheaval, the pull of generational family ties, and the interweaving of memory and present. Critics have highlighted the album’s meticulous detail and cathartic honesty, noting how tracks blend soulful melodies with psychedelic, lo‑fi textures. The earlier singles “Real Here Now” and “Water” were described as “ember‑burning slow burners” that foreshadow the album’s thematic direction.
To promote the new release, Hakim will headline a European and UK tour later this year. The tour will kick off on October 28 at the Village Underground in London, then move to Dublin, Glasgow, Birmingham, Paris, Berlin and additional venues across the continent. Ticket sales will open Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
With I Can See slated for a late‑July release, listeners can anticipate a collection that reflects a period of personal transition and artistic growth. The album’s production, collaborative network and forthcoming tour illustrate Hakim’s continued evolution as a Queens‑rooted musician reaching a broader international audience.
