UMI has never been one to follow the noise. She moves with intention, and her latest release, “Hard Truths,” is a sharp turn into deeper emotional terrain—one that explores the discomforts we usually avoid. Released alongside the announcement of her signing to Epic Records, the single marks both a sonic evolution and a bold new chapter for the rising alternative R&B artist.

Produced by HARV and Vron, “Hard Truths” carries the weight of reflection in every bar, with 6LACK lending his own voice to the existential unraveling. UMI’s signature ethereal delivery floats over minimalist production, but the message lands heavy: what’s the value of success when the soul’s gone silent? “You could cash out, that’s nice, partyin’ all night / But you’re empty inside, are you alive?” she questions in the chorus, not to judge—but to jolt us awake.

This isn’t surface-level sadness packaged for playlist comfort. It’s a direct challenge to the illusion of fulfillment through status and stuff. And with 6LACK—himself a master of melodic melancholy—joining her in this moment, the duet becomes a meditation on authenticity. It’s sobering, but it never loses hope.

Epic Records seems to understand UMI’s rare balance of tranquility and intensity. Label president Ezekiel Lewis described her as “Peaceful and Electrifying,” a paradox that perfectly fits an artist who can move between genres, moods, and messages without losing herself. With labelmates like Givēon and Mariah The Scientist, UMI is in strong creative company.

Following her 2024 EP talking to the wind and a string of international collaborations, UMI now returns with clarity. If those earlier works were uncertain, Hard Truths feels firmly rooted. It’s not afraid to sit with the silence, or to say what most won’t.

This is UMI’s arrival—not with a bang, but with something more lasting: a truth you carry with you long after the music fades.