NEWTON FAULKNER Releases New Single 'What Took You So Long'

David Harris
2 days ago
2 min read

Off the back of his recent 2026 Australian album tour announcement, multi-platinum UK artist Newton Faulkner today releases, 'What Took You So Long', a track that carries the weight of a twenty-year journey from its initial conception to its current incarnation as the cornerstone of Faulkner's upcoming album 'OCTOPUS'.

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Stream 'What Took You So Long' Here

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Crafted in his East London studio sanctuary and co-written and produced with longtime collaborator Adj, whom Faulkner first met two decades ago, the track embodies the kind of fearless creativity that emerges when an artist stops seeking external validation.

The track showcases the full spectrum of Faulkner's sonic evolution, from the acoustic foundations that built his reputation to the electronic experimentation that now defines his forward momentum.

The song captures the essence of Faulkner's artistic renaissance with the kind of raw honesty that only comes from decades of musical soul-searching.

"This track set the tone for me for the whole record," Faulkner explains.

"It came in early, and when I listened to it for the first time with fresh ears the next day, I remember thinking, 'This! This is the kind of record I want to make!' It was decades in the making in many ways.

“I remember playing the original verse idea it to an A&R team at least a decade ago, and they looked at me like I was totally nuts, asked what was wrong with me, and the idea got shelved. Now, I don't listen to anyone when it comes to making music that I love. Very glad I dusted it off. In many ways... what took me so long?"

The single's journey from rejected concept to career-defining moment perfectly encapsulates Faulkner's current creative phase, one marked by his symbolic break from the past when he cut off his iconic dreadlocks on stage at London's Islington Assembly Hall in November 2024. That moment of liberation continues to fuel his most authentic work yet.

Following the bold statements of 'Alright Alright Alright' and the collaborative triumph of 'Hunting Season (feat. Lissie & Los Bitchos)', 'What Took You So Long' proves that this double platinum artist's creative renaissance is no flash in the pan.

'What Took You So Long' will be available across all streaming platforms from today, January 30^th, serving as another tantalising preview of the full album 'OCTOPUS', set for release March 6^th via Cooking Vinyl Records.