Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Joe Bygraves – Healing (2024)

At the age of 27, singer-songwriter Joe Bygraves has achieved more than many musicians achieve in their full career (I don’t mean to be coarse, but it is true). With his soft guitar, rich vocals and infectious lyrics, Bygraves has played support slots for Paloma Faith and Ronan Keating, performed sold-out headline shows at Milton Keynes’ Craufurd Arms and appearances at St Albans’ The Horn. In 2020, he released the critically acclaimed single ‘Stand As One’ – the official campaign anthem of the #WeMakeEvents representing the plight of the entertainment industry during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Reaching far beyond his UK borders, Bygraves has garnered an international following from Europe to the USA, Canada to South America.  Almost a year ago, Joe Bygraves reached our ears with his well-received track ‘Someone Else’ showing a reminiscence to Ed Sheeran but with a unique indie-rock grittiness. Following ‘Someone Else’, Bygraves skips into 2024 with his new single ‘Healing’ – I don’t know if he actually skipped but it’s a nice way to express his warm nature.

Influenced by Ed Sheeran, ‘Healing’ is similar to ‘Someone Else’ in its Sheeran-esque melody and songwriting. Simplistic with a barebones starkness, the basic combination of piano and vocals elegantly ignites the purity of a pop ballad. While one might compare this to the likes of Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ with the intensity of Bruno Mars ‘Grenade’, Bygraves’ gruff but soothing execution sprinkles originality across the tune.

Laidback and smooth, listening to ‘Healing’ is a comfortable sensation with warm fuzzies and happy feels all around. Interestingly, while the melody is soft and his bold vocals soothing, gritty haunting lingers in the tune with chilling vocals. Instead of a ballad embracing love, ‘Healing’ tackles emptiness, fragility, isolation and desperation. Bygraves explains:

“’Healing’ is about struggling to move on from that one person; the one person you never thought you could live without, the one who you thought you would be with forever, and the one that will always hold a place in your heart.”


Find out more about Joe Bygraves on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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