Joe Hearty previews his debut album ‘Down’ with his fourth single of the year. The single, of the same name, weaves a tale of accepting pain in grief and using it as a recovery mechanism, whilst sonically remaining light and glowing in its arrangement and full of life.
Recorded across Liverpool, London, and Athens and produced by Hearty, it draws on Paul McCartney, Jon Brion, and Scott Walker, with neat strings embellishing pop chorus lines and pared-back verses carried by Joe Hearty’s commanding vocal performance. Discussing the release, Hearty explains:
“Getting through life’s heaviest moments requires us to face them head-on… whether we want to or not. That’s what Down is about – recognising that your own pain is part of the healing process, recognising that it’s important to be kind to yourself when you feel completely insane. With the lyrical content and production, I wanted to strike a balance between sad and triumphant… because that’s what it felt like for me, surrendering to my own grief felt, somewhat ironically, euphoric.”
The album emerged from a period of upheaval that began in 2024, after the death of Joe’s father and coming to terms with everyday life. Penned during travel, on planes, trains, and boats, the on-the-fly writing has led to something truly grounded, beautifully written, and ambitious.
The title track paves the way for the album that follows, with a performance at the Old Library in London on October 22nd.
