John Blek

John Blek’s tenth album, The Midnight Ache, is a sublime, lo-fi journey into vulnerability. The record balances melancholic “insomniac hours” with a hopeful move toward the light. Featuring lush strings and dreamlike arrangements, it’s a beautifully crafted transition from past shadows into a brighter, more domestic musical landscape.

John Blek kicks off the year with “Better,” a poignant final single from his upcoming album, The Midnight Ache (Jan 16). Blending relentless drums with soaring strings, the Cork songwriter explores self-improvement and past shortcomings. Recorded in his hand-built studio, the track previews a beautifully intimate UK tour that begins January 29th at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections.

Cheer Up is a journey through darkness, self-loathing and doubt into the light and salvation…John Blek’s voice has never sounded better; it’s unquestionably his finest work yet.

Today sees the release of ‘Easy Now’, the new single from Irish troubadour John Blek. The song shows the writer at ease with the passing of time and the knowledge that everything will pass, a sentiment reflected in the easy-going lyric video.

In July 2022, John Blek was commissioned to write a suite of songs about the city of Dresden. Joined by German musicians Filip Sommer (Viola) and Moritz Brümmer (Cello), watch his video for The City Sleeps, from his forthcoming EP: Digressions #3 – In Dresden.

Until The Rivers Run Dry is John Blek’s most romantic, relaxed and readily accessible work to date. It finds him at the peak of his powers, although we expect more great things to come.

Watch the video for John Blek’s new single St. John’s Eve, a song that depicts the excruciating nervousness and excitement of first love. It’s the second single to be taken from his new album “Until The Rivers Run Dry”.

Individually, the four albums that form Blek’s Catharsis Project are each standout works, together forming a heart-swelling conceptual quartet. The finale, On Ether & Air, which is fuelled by and founded on an intermingling of loss and hope, proves a triumphant climax.

John Blek shares the video for ‘Long Strand’, the lead single from his highly anticipated forthcoming album on which he is joined by Kris Drever, Cheyenne Mize, Kit Downes, as well as regular collaborators Davie Ryan and Brian Casey.

Recorded at home in isolation, ‘Grounded’ finds John Blek seeking to find a sense of balance and purpose amid the surrounding uncertainty. While experimenting with different compositional techniques it also cuts straight to the heart.

Our Song of the Day comes from John Blek with ‘The Body’, watch the accompanying video featuring Joan Shelley and Nathan Salsburg as well as regular Freakwater collaborator Anthony Fossuluzza.