On the back of their 2024 debut album, As Dust We Rise, Kiiōtō’s second album, Black Salt, is the latest release from multi-platinum songwriter and keyboardist Rohan Heath & Mercury nominated singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes (formerly of Lamb). Out in spring 2026, the album will be premiered at a special show at Kings Place on 1st May.

Whilst As Dust We Rise took its starting point from a road trip the duo took in Louisiana, Black Salt draws from a wider palette; looking inwards at their relationship with one another and then boldly outwards to the many facets of their interface with the outside world.

Debut single, Butterfly, is a dark and brooding critique of a narcissist. Its prowling bass line, angular Rhodes chords and bell motif setting the mood. Zero Gravity, in contrast, reflects upon the transformational experience of orbiting earth, recounted in Samantha Harvey’s Booker Prize winning novel Orbital; Little Axe tells of the challenges of raising young men amidst the threat of violence in urban life; White Noise decries the hold of social media on the modern mind, and Lost Map echoes the somewhat surprising results of DNA tests the couple took. In all, Heath’s arrangements are spare and bold, leaning into jazz and old soul textures but, all the while, leaving Rhodes’s haunting vocal true room to breathe.

Written in the couple’s home studio in London, Black Salt features guest appearances from a melting pot of musicians, notably the Jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen, Amy Winehouse’s guitarist Hawi Gondwe, Corrine Bailey Rae’s drummer Mykey Wilson and even some impromptu guitar by the one and only David Arnold.

The resulting album is impossible to define by genre, skipping between jazz, torch song, broken beat and guitar-driven old soul, all on a backbone of Fender Rhodes, piano, Hammond organ, glockenspiel and tambura.

Listening to Black Salt, it’s evident this wasn’t the easiest of journeys, with many songs lost along the way or put on ice. But, as Heath says: ‘It was precisely out of conflict and tension that Black Salt was born. Sometimes it felt like two stars colliding; a new star borne of chaos and heat, brighter than the sum of those destroyed.’

“Rohan would often give me titles I couldn’t imagine writing a song about”, Lou adds “but it was in that process of pushing me outside my comfort zone, that these songs took their strength”

BLACK SALT is out April 2026.

This event will last for approximately 75 minutes with no interval.

Please note that this is a standing event. Please email info@kingsplace.co.uk to discuss your access requirements.

About Kiiōtō

Kiiōtō’s second album, Black Salt, casts the net wide and deep in the stories it tells. Debut single Butterfly is a dark and brooding critique of a narcissist, its prowling bass, angular chords and bell motif creating a claustrophobic chill. In contrast, Zero Gravity – inspired by Samantha Harvey’s Booker Prize winning novel Orbital – zooms out into space, reflecting upon the transformational experience of orbiting Earth, its heartbeat intro giving way to brush drums and stacked vocal refrain.

Little Axe tells of the challenges of raising young men amidst the threat of violence in urban life, set to soulful guitar and congas, while White Noise highlights the hold of social media on the modern mind, in staccato rhythm and abstract piano. Lost Map reflects on the results of DNA tests the duo took in search of a deeper understanding of their disparate heritages, against a backdrop of spacious piano and muted trumpet. Closing track Five Eight, conveys the aching loss of Heath’s mother, Rhodes’ vocal stripped bare over shimmering Wurlitzer.

Throughout, the arrangements remain spare and bold, leaning into jazz, broken beat and soul textures, with references as diverse as Carole King, Khruangbin and Alice Coltrane. The resulting album is impossible to define by genre, but is fused by the unique interplay of Heath’s melodic sensibilities and Rhodes inimitable voice.

Mercury Music Prize nominated singer/songwriter Lou Rhodes, former lead vocalist and co-founder of Lamb, joined forces with award-winning songwriter and pianist Rohan Heath to form Kiiōtō after both had seemingly stepped away from making music. Their debut album, As Dust We Rise, was kick-started on a road trip through Louisiana, completed back in the UK and released in 2024 to critical acclaim.

Of the making of the album, Heath says: ‘The creation of Black Salt wasn’t an easy one.’ ‘The result though, is an album we couldn’t be prouder of’, Rhodes adds.

Reviews

‘The pair’s fierce storytelling powers these songs… Rhodes’ richly grained voice elegantly sets every scene…’  MOJO

‘There’s more than enough promise for a prosperous new partnership here… underpinned by the harmonious relationship between Heath’s piano and Rhodes’ elegiac voice.’ Uncut

‘Engaging and hypnotic… her husky vibrato highlighting fascinating lyrics.’ Rock’n’Reel