Rising UK star Absolutely is responding to fans’ demands by releasing her soaring new single “I Just Don’t Know You Yet,” a hopeful ballad that centers her sky-high vocals and gift for making big emotions feel remarkably intimate.
With instant-classic energy, “I Just Don’t Know You Yet” opens on huge piano hits, warm record static, and Absolutely’s hauntingly soulful voice painting a vivid picture of the artist dreaming about a less lonely future: “I been talking to you, I been writing stories in my head / Of how it’s gonna go, when I know that I know, it’s you I’ll spend forever with.” As the song goes on, she’s joined by crashing cymbals and surging guitar, underscoring the massive chorus: “I just don’t know you yet / But I know you’ve been sent from God to teach me to love again / Because I think I must’ve forgot / Oh, how to love / Oh, and how to be loved.”
Absolutely first teased “I Just Don’t Know You Yet” earlier this month on her recent North American tour with fellow alt-pop artist BANKS. The song rapidly became a fan-favorite and quickly spread across social media after footage of her performing the then-unreleased track to a rapturous standing ovation in Arizona from the enthralled crowd caught a viral spark on TikTok. The demands to release the song followed as quickly as the audience for Absolutely grew across the June tour.
Absolutely’s initial post of the performance racking up millions of views to date, as an endless stream of fans both new and old clamored for the studio version and her TikTok follower count more than tripled since the tour’s start in just 3 weeks’ time. Last week, she shared the first official snippet of the song, earning another million-plus views, picking up prais from a slew of fellow artists as diverse as Kehlani to Julia Michaels, Zara Larsson and her sister Raye, plus even inspiring passionate fans jump in and do their own covers all before the song’s official release The GRAMMYs summed it all up best in a comment: “Effortless!! So beautiful.”
The London native had only just opened up her new musical chapter this month with the gorgeously cinematic “Goodbye Glitter,” a metaphorical and deeply expressive single about embracing change. For “I Just Don’t Know You Yet,” she reunites with producer and co-writer Dave Hamelin (Beyoncé, 070 Shake), who worked across her most recent project and Epic Records debut album, 2023’s CEREBRUM.
That 13-track body of work earned Absolutely admiration from the likes of NYLON, who praised her “multi-dimensional vocal abilities,” FIZZY (“This girl’s creativity knows no bounds”), Flaunt, Euphoria, and more, plus she covered The Luna Collective magazine. The inventive album included stunning visuals for the singles “24 Hours” and “Higher,” bringing fans into the very immersive world of Absolutely’s artistry. She celebrated by opening for much of Raye’s My 21st Century Blues World Tour in 2023 and 2024.
As Absolutely builds toward the release of her second project — she’s shared multiple new songs live — “I Just Don’t Know You Yet” is more than just a reintroduction. The powerful single announces a major step forward in Absolutely’s creative development, and heralds more thrillingly evocative music to come.