The Ransom Collective’s Muri is slated to drop “Afternoon,” the first single off her upcoming debut EP to be released this year.

The Filipino singer-songwriter and violinist teased the project’s date of release on her social media accounts, along with the song title.

According to Muriel Gonzales, “Afternoon” was inspired by her personal experiences as a young woman navigating career and life challenges entirely on her own, in a country far away from home.

“I’ve been working on this song for quite a while,” she admits. “Without revealing too much about the creative and thought process behind Afternoon, I actually find it freeing to open up about being vulnerable and share a piece of myself through songwriting. Sometimes, expressing what you really feel helps you gain a deeper understanding of yourself as a person and as an artist. Making the entire track was both a journey and a reflection. I can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world.”

Currently based in London and Paris, Muri is working on her solo EP, with plans to perform her new material in Europe and Asia sometime this year.

Muri is best known for her work with indie folk collective The Ransom Collective as a violinist and singer. As a solo artist, she has earned a nomination for Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year at the prestigious Wish Awards and Favorite Female Artist at the 35th Awit Awards for her pre-debut 2022 single “Letters.” In the subsequent year, she collaborated with electronic producer LUSTBASS on a remix of “Thunder,” which garnered a nomination for Best Remix Recording at the 36th Awit Awards, the Philippines’ equivalent of the Grammys.