A self-confessed Professional Sadboy, JC Stewart has had a summer to smile about. His current single ‘Bones’ featured on Radio 1’s Best New Pop playlist and was also played by Scott Mills, adding to recent social media support from Lewis Capaldi and Niall Horan. And his live profile is exploding too, following shows with Lauv and James Bay – not to mention the fact that all four shows in his upcoming residency at The Islington sold-out within a matter of hours.
Now the young Northern Irish artist continues his positive momentum by sharing an acoustic recording of his current track ‘Bones’. Stripped back to acoustic guitar, this new take puts the focus entirely on the soulful power of JC’s voice and the emotional resonance of his lyrics. It’s stark, revealing and vulnerable – yet some subtlety layered backing vocals amplify its haunting mood.
“‘Bones’ is one of the most honest songs I have ever written,” says JC Stewart. “I wrote it the day after my first ever break-up and all the lyrics just spilled onto the page really quickly. I’m super excited that it’s coming out after so long!”
In contrast to the intimacy of the acoustic recording, the studio version of ‘Bones’ focuses on the song’s towering, anthemic nature. Its dramatic beats, strident synths and vocodered vocals take it in a modernist, alt-pop direction.
JC Stewart co-wrote ‘Bones’ with Sam Merrifield (Lewis Capaldi, JP Cooper) and Dirty Hit artist Benjamin Francis Leftwich. The studio version of the track was produced by Nathaniel ‘Detonate’ Ledwidge and Sam Merrifield, and is released on JC Stewart’s music and merch sub-brand Sunshine Boy.
JC Stewart grew up in County Derry, Northern Ireland. The fourth generation of JC Stewarts in the family tree – the rest being grocers – the young musician was always destined to take a route less travelled. Citing diverse influences such as James Blake, Dermot Kennedy, Hozier, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and The Band, he crafts songs born from his own experiences of love and heartbreak that explode from intimate confessionals into bold anthems.
That skill has been heightened by collaborations with some of the world’s leading producers and songwriters including the Grammy-winning Fred Ball (The Carters), Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey), 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)
In addition to his own quickly ascending career, JC Stewart is also an in-demand collaborator for the next wave of young artists. He co-wrote ‘Hollywood’ with his friend Lewis Capaldi, with the song featuring on the latter’s smash hit debut album ‘Devilishly Uninspired To A Hellish Extent’. He then followed his set at Barn On The Farm by guesting during Maggie Rogers’ performance of ‘Alaska’ alongside Maisie Peters and others.
JC Stewart will perform at following UK shows on October
Tue 8 Manchester Manchester Academy 2
Wed 9 Birmingham Institute 2
Thu 10 London Heaven
