Having performed in front of millions of fans around the world and selling out headline shows, Bradley Simpson is now channelling that star power into his debut solo album, The Panic Years.

As we’ve heard from the singles ‘Cry At The Moon’, ‘Picasso’, ‘Daisies’ and ‘Always Like This’, the album achieves a rare blend of qualities. On The Panic Years, Bradley’s new songs take in touches of indie-rock, Americana, ‘80s synth and psychedelia but they also sparkle with pop addictiveness. Just as importantly, the songs go far deeper into his personal experiences: life, love, lust and learning - a diaristic collection of rite-of-passage moments that fans will instantly connect to.

espite possessing the inspiration of an artist who is just starting out, the record’s consistent accomplishment means that there’s no mistaking Bradley for a brand new artist on this record. The album’s new single ‘Holy Grail’ demonstrates his maturity, both in the songwriting and his assured vocal delivery. Sonically, it sounds timeless, a slowburner that evolves from quiet intimacy into a richer tapestry of sound. Lyrically, it celebrates the future he has with a loved one, and how he can’t wait to go through the good times and the bad, as long as it’s with them.

Authenticity is a big part of what makes The Panic Years such an evolution of sound. The majority of its songs started in his modest home studio, and that DIY vibe didn’t really shift even as they were developed with a host of top tier collaborators. Primarily working in New York’s Flux Studios (where The Strokes’ classic Is This It was made), Bradely would enthuse over shared influences such as Queens of the Stone Age and The Raconteurs with Boots, Andrew Wells (Phoebe Bridgers) and Anthony Rossomando (Liam Gallagher).