corto.alto – DON’T LISTEN

Liam Shortall, the multi-instrumentalist behind corto.alto, marks his arrival at Ninja Tune with ‘DON’T LISTEN’ – a track that serves as his manifesto for creative rebellion. The Scottish artist frames this release as “a left turn into instinct over instruction,” positioning the song as a deliberate rejection of external expectations and industry conformity.

‘DON’T LISTEN’ emerges from Shortall’s philosophy of “blocking out the noise” and embracing artistic freedom without compromise.

The timing of this Ninja Tune debut follows the critical success of his album Bad With Names, which earned him a Mercury Prize nomination alongside an eclectic roster including Charli XCX, Beth Gibbons, and fellow Scot Barry Can’t Swim.

Shortall’s production work on ‘DON’T LISTEN’ reflects his multi-instrumentalist background, layering elements with precision from someone who understands each component intimately. The arrangement builds around his central thesis of creative autonomy, using sonic density and rhythmic complexity to mirror the chaos of external pressures he advocates ignoring.