Johnny Hates Jazz And Jaki Graham Unite For New Single ‘Soul Believer’

British pop legends Johnny Hates Jazz and celebrated soul vocalist Jaki Graham have joined forces for the first time on ‘Soul Believer’, a sophisticated, feel-good single that fuses polished pop sensibility with rich, timeless soul energy. The track will be released on August 21st, alongside a special live performance at Circuit Club, Kingston-upon-Thames, the same day.

‘Soul Believer’ brings together two of Britain’s most enduring musical voices for a collaboration decades in the making. Feeling like a reunion of spirits as much as voices, Johnny Hates Jazz’s melodic, songwriterly instincts wrapped around Graham’s soaring, soulful delivery, each artist elevating the other. The result is a record that shimmers with warmth: sweeping hooks meet the kind of vocal conviction that only decades of

lived musical history can produce. It’s a song about holding on to hope when the world gives you every reason not to.

Together, the artists bring their shared musical heritage into a contemporary setting, delivering uplifting melodies, layered harmonies, and a message of resilience and optimism throughout. Where Johnny Hates Jazz supply the polish and precision that made them global chart fixtures, Graham brings a vocal richness that has made her one of the most beloved and instantly recognisable voices to emerge from British soul.

Released on Revolver Records, ‘Soul Believer’ was written by JHJ’s singer-songwriter Clark Datchler together with Hamish Stuart, founder member of the Average White Band. Its lyric’s built almost entirely from the titles of classic soul records spanning through the ‘60s-‘80s, with more than 27 iconic song titles woven into the verses and chorus. Collectively, they trace a story about the enduring place music holds in people’s lives, a hidden layer that turns ‘Soul Believer’ into a love letter to the genre itself.

Launching alongside the single, Soul Believers is a 12-part music and culture podcast series presented by Jaki Graham and Clark Datchler, exploring the songs, artists and stories that shaped soul music and continue to influence popular music today. Bridging generations through conversation and guests drawn from different musical eras, Soul Believers is built to connect with long-time music lovers while introducing younger audiences to the artistry, feeling and humanity behind some of music’s greatest recordings. Each episode closes with an intimate, stripped-back piano-and-vocal performance from Jaki and Clark, reinterpreting one of the songs referenced within the episode.

Looking ahead to 2027, Johnny Hates Jazz will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their seminal global hit ‘Shattered Dreams’ with the release of a double album of the same name. The compilation will bring together the band’s most beloved songs from the late 1980s through to the present day, alongside four brand new tracks, the first of which is ‘Soul Believer’.

The album will be accompanied by ‘Shattered Dreams – The Tour’, taking Johnny Hates Jazz through the UK and beyond with Jaki Graham as special guest. Drawing on the extensive catalogues of both artists, the show promises unforgettable songs, emotive stories, energetic performances and plenty of audience participation.

– August 21st – Circuit Club, Kingston-upon-Thames (with special guest Jaki Graham)

– 26th September – 80s Weekender, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

– 29th October – Old Fire Station, Carlisle

– 30th October – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow (with Hue and Cry)

– 31st October – Concert Hall, Perth (with Hue and Cry)

– 2027 – Shattered Dreams – The Tour – dates to be announced shortly

About Johnny Hates Jazz:

Johnny Hates Jazz, the duo of Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito, first captured international attention with the multi-platinum album ‘Turn Back the Clock’, a record defined by its refined songwriting and smooth, melodic pop sound. Jaki Graham, meanwhile, established herself as one of the UK’s most respected soul voices, scoring a run of chart hits including ‘Set Me Free’ and ‘Could It Be I’m Falling in Love’.

Johnny Hates Jazz is the British duo of Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito. They rose to international success in the late 1980s with a string of hit singles, including ‘Shattered Dreams’, ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Hero’, ‘Turn Back the Clock’ (featuring Kim Wilde on backing vocals), ‘Heart of Gold’, and ‘Don’t Say It’s

Love’. Released in 1987, ‘Shattered Dreams’ became a worldwide top 5 hit, reaching No. 2 in both the US and Japan.

Their debut album, ‘Turn Back the Clock’, topped the UK Albums Chart in 1988, sold more than four million copies worldwide, and achieved triple-platinum status. ‘Shattered Dreams’ has since been played almost four million times on US radio alone.

The band split at the height of their success before reuniting in 2010. Since then, they have released the albums ‘Magnetized’ (2013) and ‘Wide Awake’ (2020), along with a 30th Anniversary Edition of ‘Turn Back the Clock’ in 2018, featuring newly recorded acoustic versions of every track. In 2021, they toured the UK with Level 42, and in 2024 welcomed guitarist Nic Keeble into the band’s live and creative line-up before completing a sold-out world tour.

About Jaki Graham:

Midlands-based soul singer Jaki Graham established herself as one of the most popular R&B and dance artists in the UK with a string of hits in the ’80s. Among her chart entries were top ten placings for ‘Could It Be I’m Falling in Love’, ‘Round and Round’, and ‘Set Me Free’. Graham has also lent her vocals to releases by other artists, including UB40 and Kim Wilde. Her 1994 cover of ‘Ain’t Nobody’ became a massive club hit, topping the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for five weeks. Her output since the ‘80s has continued largely through releases in Japan, where she maintains huge popularity, and she remains a celebrated live performer, having shared stages with Michael McDonald, Al Green, and Cliff Richard.

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By Fifth Element PR 

Johnny Hates Jazz & Jaki Graham – ‘Soul Believer’ is released on 21st August 2026.