BLACKBURN rap act Rime Suspex launch their new mini album next week ahead of their eagerly awaited show at Blackburn’s Free Festival.

Rime will showcase their new songs of hard-edged urban poetry at the Witton Country Park festival with Toploader, The Northern Jazz Orchestra and Sky Valley Mistress already confirmed on the September 6 bill.

The three-piece, including vocalist Miranda Myles, Rob Duckett and guitarist Rory Myles have enjoyed a whirlwind year since reaching the 2013 finals of the Lancashire Telegraph-backed Reidys talent contest.

“We are really excited about the new album, it is definitely our best work,” said rapper Rob from Mill Hill.

“We wanted to create a record that reflected all our different tastes in music and what we are about as people.

“There’s the light-hearted, happy side and the darker, more serious side. It is a really edgy sound, and there’s a nice dance vibe in there too.

“We all write lyrics so we are constantly coming up with new ideas.”

Now they are set to release a video of the track, Painted Eyes, also culled from the new record produced by Jack Watkins.

Rob added: “We’ve only been together a year or so, but we’ve built up a good local following of fans, who’ve been really supportive.

“We’ve also got a nationwide tour coming up in September and October, so, hopefully, we can build up a national fan base too.

“Getting to the final of the Reidys competition really gave us a lot of momentum and we’ve carried that on with the EP, which is really thrilling.”

The band have already landed support slots for big names in the Rap scene, including Blizzard and Shotty Horroh, as well as backing indie singer John Power.

“I’ve always liked Tupac, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan and NWA, but I wouldn’t say that any of them have had a really massive influence on our sound,” added Rob.

“I like loads of different stuff, but the sound has evolved really nicely in the last few months and it is more of a fusion.

“Miranda, for example, likes a lot of heavy R@B. In a way, we are still getting to know each other musically, writing new songs and feeding off each others ideas.”

Rime Suspex’s new EP is released on August 31 and is available for pre-order now on I Tunes.

They also have also announced their official album launch party at Darwen’s Level One Club on October 3.