Joshua Idehen‘s debut album, I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, is nearly here, after over 20 years immersed in London’s poetry scene, and being involved with bands like Benin City, Hugh, Calabashed, The Comet Is Coming, and many more. Arriving on March 6th through Heavenly, the upcoming album marks a new chapter for him. Collaborating once again with Ludvig Parment, the album blends house-infused beats, soaring choirs, and striking and meditative lyrics that reflect on the human condition with both vulnerability and defiance. A cathartic mix of grief, joy, and healing, I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try celebrates collective strength. “Drawing on friendships, fatherhood, and the redemptive power of music”, as the press release describes, “Idehen creates work that doesn’t shy away from pain—but always points toward light”. On his album, Idehen is clearly saying that we’re all hurting, but we don’t have to face the struggles alone. Joshua comments:

“There’s a likelihood that we might be planting seeds that we won’t get to see harvested…but the planting is good. The planting is just as important as the watering and the tending and the harvesting. We all have to play a part so that we can have some redemption.”

To bring the album to life, Idehen and Parment were joined by a host of friends and collaborators, including writers Leone Ross and Charlotte Manning, and vocalist Amanda Bergman, as well as Pete Fraser on sax and Shabaka Hutchings on flute.

Ahead of the album’s release, Idehen has let loose three singles, ‘It Always Was’, ‘This Is The Place’, and ‘Don’t Let It Get You Down’, each one offering a different perspective, but all united by a theme of healing and hope. The first one is offered with an accompanying video by Prehuman, directed and edited by Jonny Sanders. Check it all out below.