JC Stewart crafts songs born from his own experiences of love and heartbreak that explode from intimate confessionals into bold anthems. He’s already achieving great things. His early tracks such as ‘Like I Did’ and ‘Medicine’ have fired him past the 10 million streams landmark, and he co-wrote ‘Hollywood’, a song that features on ‘Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’, the #1 debut album from his friend Lewis Capaldi.
Now JC Stewart’s ascent continues with his new single ‘Have You Had Enough Wine?’, which is an autobiographical account of the final conversation he had with an ex-girlfriend. “Have you had enough wine? “Have I ruined your life? I didn’t mean to,” he sings, his voice brimming with emotion, in a track produced by his regular collaborator, the Grammy-winning producer Fred Ball (The Carters).
“The relationship was on the way out,” he explains. “It takes those three lines and turns it into something bigger. It’s a really simple, human thing that everyone goes through at some point.”
The song’s vulnerability also resonated in the accompanying video, which was directed by Greg Barnes (Kamaal Williams, Young Fathers).
An intense examination of the volatility of young love, it depicts JC Stewart and his on-screen girlfriend sharing their final meal together as their troubled relationship comes to an explosive end. It cuts back home, where JC loses himself in his music as he attempts to find closure following their split. It’s a video which reflects his experiences of finding comfort in songwriting in the wake of a break-up.
Both the song and the video reflect the Professional Sadboy nickname that his sister bestowed upon him. It’s a cheeky if appropriate moniker for a man who explores the thrill of romance, the pain of heartache and everything in-between.
“Most of my songs start as a small conversation with someone,” he explains, citing influences such as James Blake, Dermot Kennedy, Hozier, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and The Band. “Then the question is: how do I make it into something bigger that people can connect to, while also keeping it personal?”
In addition to Fred Ball, recent months have seen JC Stewart working with some of the world’s leading producers and writers. Justin Parker, a regular co-writer for Lana Del Rey, is also a regular collaborator. Meanwhile, sessions in Los Angeles have included work with Greg Wells (Dua Lipa, Adele), Toby Gad (Jess Glynne, John Legend), Jon Green (Rag N Bone Man, James Bay) and Jonny Coffer (Beyoncé, Fall Out Boy)
‘Have You Had Enough Wine?’ is the first release on his Sunshine Boy sub-brand which he’ll be using to release music and merch.
Having recently toured with Freya Ridings, JC Stewart will follow the release of the single by playing some high profile shows and festivals throughout the summer which include a London gig with Lauv. The dates are:
JUNE
5th – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (with Lauv)
JULY
7th – Barn On The Farm
21st – Latitude
AUGUST
18th – Belfast, Custom House Square (with Anne-Marie)