Belgian baroque folk poet Loverman announces his debut album, the aptly titled Lovesongs, set for release through [PIAS] Recordings on October 27. The album was written by Loverman and produced by Pieterjan Maertens & Jo Francken (known for their work with fellow Belgian prodigy Tamino and French singer Zaz) and Loverman himself.
For James de Graef love is the fundamental building block of his artistic expression, as his stage name and debut album title explicitly attest. Yet while Lovesongs by Loverman will leave the listener in no doubt that love is all, the emotional embers at the heart of each of the record’s 11 songs – and the warm, intimate and candid atmosphere that pervades across them – also ensure that all of love is here to be experienced.
“It's been informed not only by heartbreak but by love in all its different shapes, forms and exchanges,” the Anglo-Belgian singer-songwriter and producer explains of the melancholic yet hopeful core at the heart of Lovesongs. “Heartbreak is the base, but the record is just as much capturing the joy and the energy you get from communing with your loved ones and your friends in an ecstatic celebratory environment, or the love you feel for humans in general. People you've never met, but when you see their tenderness and understanding it creates moments of real beauty. Like when you see on the news people engaging and helping after disasters or hardship. It touches that spirit of love too.”
Pre-order the debut album here: loverman.ffm.to/lovesongs
Listen to Would (Right In Front Of Your Eyes) here: loverman.ffm.to/would
The restless single Would (Right In Front Of Your Eyes), out on all digital platforms today, talks about the pitfalls of love. Would is an exciting piece of dusty desert folk, proving there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Loverman’s songwriting skills. Showing a softer, gentler side on previous outings as ‘Candyman’ and ‘Into The Night’, on this new track the singer sounds fired up and adrenalized.
Backed with vocals by his creative (and real life) partner Daisy Ray, the pair form the perfect present-day answer to Bonnie & Clyde or Johnny & June Carter Cash.
“It’s about the things you would have liked to have said, you would have liked the other to have said or done”, James explains, “in ‘Would’ I mourn over not speaking my mind out of fear of hurting. Pity and fear ultimately killing love. The very thing you tried to protect out of so-called love dissolves, disappears. And as a final added reflection there is the same behavioural mechanism mimicked by society, smiling insincerely, regardless of your insincerity. There isn’t the will to invest in conflict. The song realises this and resents this. Seeking authenticity in conflict, it ends on a hopeful note. Not all is lost, as long as we commit to keep on trying, to keep touching, to confront, keep holding on, making our cries be heard once more. For it’s never too late to start again. To start over today.”
On the back of previous singles Into The Night and Differences Aside Loverman has already strong support from BBC6 Music in the UK, FIP in France and Radio 1 in Belgium, making it to the top of their VOX listener's chart. Loverman will play a series of club shows in Belgium and is also added to this year’s line-up for MaMa Music & Convention in Paris. In September he will support Tamino on his tour in Turkey.
Live:
12.10.2023 — MAMA MUSIC & CONVENTION, PARIS (FR)
31.10.2023 — AERONEF, LILLE (FR)
28.11.2023 — ANCIENNE BELGIQUE, BRUSSELS
07.12.2023 — DE CASINO, SINT-NIKLAAS
14.12.2023 — CACTUS CLUB, BRUGES
20.12.2023 — TRIX, ANTWERP
