Anjimile’s ‘You’re Free to Go’ and New Sounds in Indie Music

North Carolina-based singer-songwriter Anjimile Chithambo is releasing his new album, You’re Free to Go, on March 13, 2026, via 4AD. The album follows 2020’s Giver Taker and represents a shift towards greater ease and comfort in his songwriting, exploring themes of gender, faith, and friendship.

Exploring Identity Through Music

Anjimile’s perform has often been compared to Sufjan Stevens, but even as Stevens’ early records focused on identity in relation to God, family, and landscapes, Anjimile sharpens his identity through the lenses of gender, faith, and friendship. On You’re Free to Go, Anjimile expresses a newfound comfort, even amidst challenging subjects. As he sings in “Waits For Me,” “When I was a little girl, I wanted to be free… When I was a little boy, I wanted to be real.”

New Single: “Rust & Wire”

The album features the recently released single, “Rust & Wire,” described as a hushed and still track reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens. Anjimile describes the song as being about “love and lust, blooming in the summertime. It’s about kissing in the warm rain and sleeping with the windows open at night while the breeze floats by. What it feels like when things are effortless.”

From Durham to Los Angeles and Back

Anjimile’s creative process has been shaped by his experiences with location. After relocating from Durham, North Carolina, to Los Angeles in 2021 to work on his second album, The King, he experienced feelings of alienation and depression. He collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Shawn Everett to experiment with his approach to the acoustic guitar and delve into writing protest songs and reflections on family and relationships. He has since returned to Durham, where he works as a bouncer at a local club, balancing work with his songwriting.

Finding Inspiration in Cycling

Outside of music, Anjimile finds inspiration and therapeutic benefits in cycling. He regularly rides the American Tobacco Trail in North Carolina on his Kona Rove, nicknamed “The Wicked Witch of the South.” He credits these rides with clearing his head and providing the emotional space needed for songwriting. “Riding is obviously not therapy but, man, it has such tangible and immediate therapeutic benefits,” Anjimile stated.

Other Notable Releases

Alongside Anjimile’s upcoming album, other new releases on March 13, 2026, include YG’s “State Of Emergency,” Ms Ray’s Melt EP, Suzy Clue’s “Love Me The Same,” and Sparkler’s “Arrive Today.” Lykke Li also released “Knife In The Heart” on the same day, and ML Buch shared a new untitled track that she began writing a decade ago.

Ora Cogan’s Hard Hearted Woman, released via Sacred Bones, offers otherworldly folk music with a blend of gothic and galactic influences. Cut Worms’ Transmitter, released on Jagjaguwar, is also garnering attention.