NAO Will Release New Album Autumn on October 16
The R&B artist returns with a ten-track collection marking the start of a new four-part series.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in R&B
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NAO will release her latest album, Autumn, on October 16, 2026. The independent project serves as the first installment in a four-part series titled A Soulful Suite.
Why it matters
The release signals a creative shift for NAO as she returns to her roots in jazz and transitions to independent distribution to secure greater artistic freedom. The project represents a deliberate departure from the sound established on her previous 2025 release, Jupiter.
The album Autumn features 10 tracks, selected from 20 to 25 initial musical ideas. These concepts were developed from two days of improvisation recorded in the artist's living room.
The players
NAO
NAO is a British R&B singer and songwriter known for her distinct voice and fusion of electronic, soul, and jazz influences.
Dave Okumu
Dave Okumu is a musician and producer who collaborated with NAO on the production of her album Autumn.
The details
Produced in collaboration with Dave Okumu, the album allows NAO to leverage her four years of formal jazz training from her time at a music conservatoire. Initial sketches for the record were famously captured using only a mobile phone before being fully developed.
Timeline
NAO shared two singles and announced the new album on September 30, 2026.
The album Autumn is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This release follows the 2025 release of the album Jupiter, marking a transition in the artist's discography. By opting for an independent release strategy, NAO joins a growing cohort of artists shifting away from traditional label structures to maintain greater control over their creative output.
Listeners can expect to access the new music independently as NAO moves away from traditional major label distribution. The release marks the start of a four-album cycle, meaning fans should anticipate a continued series of projects in the coming seasons.
The takeaway
The move to independent production highlights how modern artists are leveraging formal training to reclaim autonomy in their creative process. Fans interested in jazz-influenced R&B can look to this four-part series as a case study in long-term narrative album building.
Further reading
Explore the latest developments in the R&B scene for more artist updates.
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