After garnering 20k streams in two weeks with his debut single, the Connecticut lyrical luminary, J. Mathews, is set to unveil his debut EP, Courage, on March 3rd, 2023.

Kicking off the EP is the single, Courage for Fools, which runs in a similar vein to Blink-182’s more melodic work with less emphasis on punk and more pop hooks. The sticky-sweet melody carved through buzzing synth lines and euphoric beats set the tone for innocently hesitant romanticism.

Wanderlust sets up a dream-like atmosphere through Matthews’ honeyed vocal lines that run accordantly in parallel with the harmonic timbre of Elliott Smith as the vibrantly intricate rhythms capture the yearning of a restless soul determined to make like Jack Kerouac and hit the road.

For You is an indie-pop polaroid of affectionate intoxication; as the reverb and electro percussive fills bring the 80s nostalgia, modernism spills from J. Matthews’ contemporary lyrical style, which spills poetry onto the seamless tonal shifts as the track veers from indie to electro to future pop.

Concluding the EP, Nothing to Fear shares a resonantly impactful account of personal growth through trap pop stylings and a lyrical poignancy that Taylor Swift has got us accustomed to.

The EP was recorded and mixed by the head producer at Onyx Soundlab, Hana Sushi, before John Davis at Metropolis Studios in the UK mastered the singles..

For Fans of Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, and Shawn Mendes.

J. Matthews said:

My Courage EP carries the weight of my experience, starting as an insecure college kid and growing into confidence. From figuring out love and life in Courage for Fools to the narration of lockdown stagnation and fear of missing out in Wanderlust. For You is a love song, through and through, capturing the serendipity when your idealised partner manifests as though they appeared from the production line in your own mind.

The concluding single, Nothing to Fear, celebrates the freedom of a new-found perspective, such as the one you gain from returning to your hometown after college when you find pride in your scars because, without them, you would have never become better than you were before.

Amelia Vandergast, the Executive Editor at A&R Factory said:

"It is only a matter of time before the songwriting accolades start cascading upon J. Matthews. His razor-sharp lyrical hooks coalesce with the ensnaring immersivity within his melodies, making each track a soul-awakening hit of sonic ecstasy."