After releasing singles like Bones, Lying That You Love Me, and I Need You To Hate Me, Irish singer-songwriter JC Stewart has finally released his first ever EP, titled When The Lights Hit The Room.
Featuring his brand new single Rest Of My Life, JC has graced us with 4 brand new songs. The EP started as a project during quarantine, and a dream come true. Not only has he finally released an EP, but he got to work together with one of his idols, Tom Odell. Odell inspired Stewart to become a singer-songwriter, making the release feel like a full-circle moment.
The EP starts with the single Rest Of My Life. This song is the backbone of the EP; not only does it immediately draw you in, but it also introduces the theme of the EP: “I wrote ‘When The Light Hits The Room’ about growing up and searching for the end goal that would make everything make sense.”
The song talks about how Stewart is yearning for someone he could spend the rest of his life with but recognises that there are a lot of challenges to overcome. A lot of the time, when it comes to music released by singer-songwriters, a lot of the songs start to sound the same. However, JC Stewart tries to mix it up a little. The song sounds a bit like a stripped-down version of Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You – in a 2020 jacket. It definitely sets the tone for the rest of the songs to come.
The EP continues with Valium. If you have ever heard JC Stewart’s music before – this sounds like a grown-up version of his 2018 song Medicine. Both of the songs talk about how a broken relationship is hard to let go of, and you cannot live with or without it. You want to forget it as soon as possible, but you do not want to say goodbye to everything that has given to you. I have never ever been heartbroken (22 and single baby!) but if I would ever get my heartbroken, I would definitely listen to this song. This just feels like that kind of song you would listen to when you are sitting in your shower crying. I mean that in the best way possible, it conveys that feeling beautifully.
Friday Night is next up and keeps us in a sad mood. The lyrics talk about dragging on throughout your day-to-day routine, wishing the weekend would come around to get you out of that rut. You’re just trying to feel something – anything. I get that feeling of wishing it was Friday night. Who doesn’t want to get shitfaced to forget everything that has happened, and just want to have fun with whoever you cross paths with? I haven’t felt alive since the last time I went to a live gig (and that was in March)! It’s a beautiful acoustic song, that is carried by softly sung harmonies in the background. The song ends with crossing paths with a girl – and dreaming that she could be the relief to make JC’s weekdays as pleasurable as his Fridays.
The EP comes full circle with the last song, Hard to Believe, where Stewart finally meets the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with. I have never received a love letter (if anyone is interested I can give you my address), but I don’t think that love letter can ever top how cute this song is. Honestly, I am almost getting a toothache, that’s how sweet this song is. After all the trouble he has gone through for the last 3 songs, he finally feels content. His hope that he has expressed throughout the EP, has finally come to fruition.
There is no doubt that JC is destined to become bigger and bigger. This EP is only the beginning of a very successful journey that is about to begin for this excellent artist.
