British singer-songwriter James Bay has released his new single today (July 9th), Chew On My Heart. The track premiered on Radio 1 as a ‘Pop Emergency’ on DJ Nick Grimshaw’s Radio show. This brand new release is the first teaser from Bay’s third studio album and follows the critically acclaimed 2019 EP, Oh My Messy Mind.
Quite the sonic departure from Bay’s previous stylings, Chew On My Heart has a high energy bop that makes it impossible for the listener to keep still. Catchy and with hints of pop, Chew On My Heart is a vibrant love song. Opening with Bay’s signature acoustic guitar, the song steadily builds in instrumentation to an uplifting, melodious chorus.
Bay maintains a narrative on Chew On My Heart that revels in being in love, proving that melancholia is not always essential to a great love song. When writing on Twitter today, Bay maintains that Chew On My Heart “is a song about being deeply and madly in love”. This is evident throughout the song, that contains emotive lyrics such as “I wanna be your touch/Sleeping’s so tough, you’re burning my mind/What would it feel like if you tore me apart?”. Bay wonderfully examines the pain and passion of being in unrelenting love, giving Chew On My Heart a universal message.
The Hold Back The River hitmaker also took to Instagram today to share Chew On My Heart with his 1.2m followers. Writing in the caption, Bay said that “After a tough few months all around the world, it’s so exciting to release some music we can all get up and jump around to!” Garnering over 21,000 likes and views in a few short hours, the post has been met with a delighted reception from fans.
Speaking on his third studio album, Bay’s next body of work will be his most raw and personal yet. When chatting to NME, Bay stated that “I think the lyrics and vulnerability are where I’ve pushed the boundaries the most on this record and it’s a new kind of personal songwriting.” A homage to his longtime girlfriend, Bay also said of his upcoming album: “My long-term girlfriend and I were just kids when we met; we knew each other before any of this happened in our lives. The album is a bit of a tribute to our journey.”
Bay’s next album comes after the indie-pop project Electric Light and his blinding debut album, Chaos And The Calm. With its official release date remaining under wraps, fans can hope to hear Bay’s upcoming album in the next few months.
As well as completing a whole album amidst the coronavirus crisis, the singer-songwriter has been keeping busy by connecting with his fans through social media. Offering a mix of guitar tutorials on his Instagram series ‘Live Lessons’, Bay is one of the many artists offering some musical solace to their fans during these trying times.
