Diego Philips returns with an emotional and understatedly powerful new EP, I want to laugh until I cry.

By Graeme Smith

A Belgian-born and London-based singer songwriter, Diego has been releasing music since 2014, and drew acclaim for his I Am Yuki: The Hiroshima Project in 2022. He’s has appeared on this blog once before thanks to his single, Water. Now he’s back with his new EP, I want to laugh until I cry.

Exploring themes of intimacy, healing and the passage of time, the EP is a delicate, acoustic collection which kicks off with its title track. With an instrumental arrangement that includes gentle guitar and the stirring strings of cello player Shizuku Tatsuno, Diego’s expressive vocal comes through clearly. A memorable chorus provides an early hook for our attention. I could tell early on that I was in for something special with this EP.

Why can’t you stay out of my head? is a brooding track that’s full of longing. Diego’s voice feels as if it might break during an understatedly powerful performance. Hummingbird slows things down for a contemplative moment complete with mournful strings. Time introduces some elegant keys during a philosophical number before the aforementioned Water closes the EP strongly with poetic lyrics and ample passion.

Diego is a master of doing a lot with a little and the five compositions in his new EP give us plenty of emotion while not overcrowding the instrumental or overproducing the sound. It’s raw and authentic and that’s all it needs to be. Its effective storytelling and Diego’s emotional delivery does it all. Fans of José González or Nick Drake will find a lot to love about it.

I want to laugh until I cry was produced by Alexander Sokolow and recorded at Ctrl-P Studio, London. It’s out now and you can give it a listen below.