After a four-year hiatus, Jack Garratt is back.

With the release of his debut album ‘Phase’, his Critics Choice Brit Award Win and sold-out shows with fans packing out venues across the UK, from the outside everything looked bright for Jack Garratt, but in his head he was battling his demons every day encasing him in self-doubt about his career and the pressure of this success.

Jack’s musical life was suddenly under the spotlight; what would he do next? would his next single live up to the hype? would he follow in fellow Brit Awards winners’ path?

For his fans, none of this mattered. His incredible music and outstanding vocals were the reason the public adored him. But for Jack, it felt like there was no way out of this new pressure-pot.

Jack may have felt like he lost himself, but he didn’t lose the knack for making music.

Stepping out of the limelight to focus on time for recovery, Jack has returned making the music he wants. With restraints lifted, he used his experience in a cathartic way penning lyrics from the emotions he had built up inside him.

With no support act, no mobile phones (a small recyclable bag and personalised note from Jack was given to all at the door) and an air of intrigue, the focus was entirely on Jack for the night, which perhaps could’ve been a terrifying experience, but for tonight it felt like he’d invited you into his studio for a sneak listen to his new tracks with an honest and heartwarming tale to tell.

For the Edinburgh show, it was the night following the Brit Awards 2020, marking 4 years since Jack was placed into the musical spotlight. As Jack Tweeted explaining it “[The Brit Awards] makes me feel weird, and ‘Phase’ came out 4 years ago today, which makes me feel super weird, but I’m on tour and I’m playing music I love and I’m proud and thankful”.

Jack has never shied away from his anxieties, particularly surrounding performing live, as Jack explained more about each new single as the night went on. He was refreshingly open about his own mental health and the difficulties of the pressure he experienced in the limelight which brought with it a host of new challenges.

Each new track introduces beautifully written tales, in particular ‘Doctor Please’ an extremely emotional track with raw lyrics straight from the heart. A tear-inducing single, you could almost feel the pain he’d experience through the words.

Throughout each track, Jack’s shattering standard beliefs, there doesn’t have to be a perfect answer to everything and in fact, some things don’t need an answer at all.

A topic which no doubt many of us face on a day-to-day basis. Overthinking yourself into a rut, a process which for many can’t be helped, but engrosses our minds and takes over. In Jack’s new single ‘Time’ he offers reassurance that ‘time is on your side’ as he sings “why is it not enough to be ‘fine?”.

‘Circles’ explores into the difficulties Jack faced with a voice in his head trying to tell him he wasn’t liked when in fact he was loved by many. This struggle of two selves presented itself in a stripped back emotional single that no doubt hit home for many.

From deep songs written surrounding topics from suicide to abusive relationships, it was a bold and invigorating move that Jack hasn’t chosen to return with new singles masking his pain, he’s spilling out his heart to help others as he refuses to shy away from these topics we should all be discussing.

That’s not to say the album is full of these slower ballad-esque tracks, recent singles ‘Mara’ and ‘Return Them To The One’ which were even the more incredible in a live setting and two of forthcoming releases including ‘Better’ were psychedelic disco-infused treats, which still delve into these topics, but in a new dance-along way adding another layer of versatility.

Jack Garratt is an incredible performer and deserves all the success he has rightly been awarded to-date. The Edinburgh show was an honest, restorative and emotionally-charged gig. On reflection, it feels all the more special that no photos or videos exist from the night creating a special memory for the crowds who were lucky enough to snap up tickets while providing Jack with a safe place to open up and explore his new sounds.

Jack Garratt’s forthcoming album is set for release in May. You can check out ‘Love, Death & Dancing (Vol 1) now via Spotify!

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