A Berklee College of Music graduate, Joe Holt received national attention in the US in 2022, charting in the AAA Top 200 and Top 5 NACC Folk Adds.

By Graeme Smith

The time that followed was a challenging one for him, but now he’s back, two years sober and ready to confront topics of growth, change and realignment with his new album, I Love You, Say It Back.

The album has a slow-burning start, building cinematically through the intro of opening track War of Attrition. Joe’s soft vocals come in, confessional in nature, giving us introspective and poetic lyrics. The track arrives at a lingering conclusion that has us hungry to hear the rest of the album.

Nine more tracks follow, showing us a range of emotions and styles, tied together by Joe’s raw lyricism. Delicate acoustic moments like Song 3, Please Don’t Change and Time Will Tell are contrasted by rich electronica of The Grind and haunting rock of I Wish I Did. Change My Mind – Girlbrother Version sees Joe team up with Los Angeles-based singer-songwriters Emily Anderson and Kat Kennedy to deliver a vulnerable late album highlight.

The raw honesty on display across the ten tracks of Joe’s new album makes it a gripping listen, and the storytelling is beautifully emphasised by its rich and varied instrumentals. It’s an exquisite collection.

I Love You, Say It Back was produced by Charles Humenry. It features a horn solo from Kyra Sims, strings from David Morales Boroff, Mason Lieberman, and Joe’s mother Alison. Drums are by Chris Geller.

The album is out now and you can listen to it below.