UK singer-songwriter Joe Hicks launches into 2026 with the release of his electrifying new single “More to Me,” offering a powerful first glimpse into his forthcoming studio album Before It Gets Dark, due this March. Urgent, emotional, and unfiltered, the track marks a pivotal creative moment for Hicks, setting the emotional foundation for what promises to be his most personal record to date.
Driven by propulsive drums, pulsing keyboards, and soaring electric guitar lines, “More to Me” blends the immediacy of power pop with the depth and texture of art pop. Written in the immediate aftermath of a breakup, the song captures the fog of heartbreak—the unanswered questions, the imagined distance, and the struggle to break free from a connection that no longer exists. It ultimately became the starting point for the album, shaping its emotional arc and tone.
“After a breakup you’re often unaware of how the other person is dealing with it,” Hicks explains. “Silence leaves you guessing and feeling like you’re the only one suffering while they’re fine. This song is about breaking free from the invisible hold they still have, the echoes of a life that no longer exists.”
As the track evolved alongside co-writers Tom Millar and Sam Winfield, its sound grew heavier and more intense, mirroring the emotional weight behind it. The song took on new life during a scenic February car journey, where inspiration struck in an unfamiliar way.
“For the first time ever, a melody and lyrics came to me without a guitar in my hand,” Hicks shares. “It was totally opposite to how I normally work, so I had to write music to a vocal rather than the other way around. Lyrically, the theme survived and grew from that winter drive.”
Set for release on March 27, Before It Gets Dark is a deeply cathartic body of work, written as Hicks processed profound personal loss. The album confronts grief, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion head-on, while offering listeners a sense of solace and shared understanding.
“The album is about feeling beaten down by modern society, uncertainty, and by the things life can throw at you,” says Hicks. “It deals with the death of my dad, a breakup, and the darker songs come from a somewhat nihilistic ‘life is meaningless’ perspective I slipped into after those events. This record is about coming through that and looking forward—wanting to see the world before it gets dark.”
Hailing from Newbury, Berkshire, Joe Hicks released his first single in 2017 and has since built a dedicated following, amassing over 5 million Spotify streams. His career has included extensive touring across the UK and Europe, appearances at festivals such as CarFest, The Big Feastival, Are You Listening? Festival, and Pub in the Park, more than 30 Sofar Sounds shows, and support slots for Sam Fender, Seafret, James Walsh, and Starsailor.
Following the release of his debut album The Best I Could Do at the Time in 2022, Hicks received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Introducing, where he was named Artist of the Week, alongside press support from CLASH Magazine, Manchester Evening News, and Blues Matters Magazine.
With “More to Me,” Joe Hicks steps confidently into his next chapter—one defined by honesty, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose as he invites listeners to walk with him toward the light before it fades.
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