no one is making music like wesley joseph.
wesley joseph has just released his debut studio album. half a decade in the making. to fully articulate why this album has hit for me the way it has, let me give you a history lesson. the first time i went to produce anything content related in london was in may 2022. i was offered guestlist for wesley joseph's headline show at xoyo. i was a fan before. i left a super fan. the energy of that crowd and the power of his music in the flesh rocked me to my core. a year later, i was at his headline at koko. photo pass this time. to this day, the best photos i've ever taken. sun was setting over london in the early summer warmth, and wesley joseph matched that beauty perfectly. we're already at legend status. fast forward nearly three years. here we are. forever ends someday.
when i say no one is making music like wesley joseph, that's not me making some sensationalist statement to get you to listen to his music. that's not me overdoing it. i listen to a lot of music. he's one of one. his fusion of rap, r&b, electro and alt-pop is a totally unique. there's a quality to his music i adore that you so rarely hear now: the distance. what i mean by that is his music is his own to the point that sonic analysis is futile. when i listen to overjoyed by stevie wonder, i'm not sat there thinking about it. i'm in awe. when i listen to purple rain, i'm in awe. when i listen to wesley joseph, i'm in awe.
this new album will feed generations. his fans have been living off two excellent ep's for years, so this is christmas. it goes without saying that i think it's fantastic. from the bedroom-pop influence on if time could talk, to the haunting violins on peace of mind, to july's victory lap with jorja smith. that's the one that's sticking with me. two kids from walsall come good. vocally exquisite. narratively rich. it's a hit, basically. buzzing that this record exists. do yourself a favour. put your mates on. wesley joseph is back.
enjoy your friday night.