Composer Daniele Luppi Will Release New Album Wilma
The upcoming record features collaborations with artists Michael Kiwanuka and Orion Sun.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in R&B
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Composer Daniele Luppi will release his latest album, Wilma, on October 9, 2026. The new project, arriving on the Verve/slowplay label, features musical contributions from Michael Kiwanuka and Orion Sun.
Why it matters
The album functions as a sonic love letter to Italian cinema, incorporating historical recordings from Italian session players. This release continues Luppi's long-standing exploration of cinematic soundscapes.
Luppi's previous major collaboration, the 2011 album Rome with Danger Mouse, peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart. His work has also been featured in films like Under the Tuscan Sun and The Nines.
The players
Daniele Luppi
An Italian-born composer who has received Emmy nominations for his television work on Magic City and Marco Polo.
Michael Kiwanuka
A British singer-songwriter known for his soulful vocal contributions across various musical projects.
Orion Sun
An American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who collaborates on the new project.
The details
Luppi draws from unreleased studio recordings produced by Italian session players between the 1960s and early 1980s. Throughout the album, he provides instrumentation on piano, organ, bass, and trumpet.
Timeline
1960s-1980s: Luppi utilized unreleased recordings from this era for the album.
2003: Luppi provided music for the film Under the Tuscan Sun.
2007: Luppi provided music for the film The Nines.
2008: Luppi composed the score for Assassination of a High School President.
October 9, 2026: The album Wilma will be officially released.
Industry Dynamics
The project follows the collaborative structural pattern established by the 2011 album Rome, which paired Luppi with producer Danger Mouse. This release reflects a broader trend of composers leveraging historical archives to create new cinematic pop and R&B crossover works.
Listeners will be able to access the new album on all major streaming platforms starting on October 9, 2026. The record will be available via the Verve/slowplay label.
The takeaway
Luppi's career showcases the longevity of cinematic composition when blended with modern vocal collaborations. Audiences interested in the intersection of film scores and contemporary music may appreciate the fusion of archival 20th-century sounds with modern production.
Further reading
Explore more upcoming releases in our R&B section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Bay Times.
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