Photo Credit: Alicia Woods

After an incredible year wowing crowds at Reading & Leeds Festival, Latitude, and the Isle of Wight Festival, Bradley Simpson is ready to break out on his own with his debut solo album, ‘The Panic Years‘. Set to be released on February 28th, 2025, this album establishes Simpson as one of the UK’s most exciting new global artists, showcasing a blend of indie-rock, Americana, ‘80s synth, and psychedelia all wrapped in those irresistible pop-melodies we are all familiar with and comforted by. Embracing his newfound solo journey with open arms, the songs of ‘The Panic Years‘ go far deeper into his personal experiences: life, love, lust and learning.

The singles released ahead of The Panic Years’ release (‘Cry At The Moon’, ‘Picasso’, ‘Daisies’, ‘Holy Grail’, ‘Always Like This’, and ‘Carpet Burn’) offer a compelling preview of what’s to come. Each track takes us through different facets of Bradley’s personal journey, from the highs of love to the lows of uncertainty, exposing vulnerabilities and connecting with listeners on a deeply emotional level. The Brummie singer-songwriter “hope[s] these songs […] can become the soundtrack to [the fans’] lives, whether they’re dancing, crying, going out or whatever it is. It really feels like an opportunity to let them into a side of my life that I haven’t shared before.”

Opening the album with a haunting, atmospheric vibe, Introductory track and single, ‘Cry At The Moon’ features vocals that are raw and full of emotion, pulling us into Simpson’s own world of introspection and vulnerability. Reflecting the sense of loneliness, heartbreak, and emotional longing, this is a perfect introduction, setting an intense tone for the rest of the album. In contrast, single ‘Always Like This’ brings the raw energy of Bradley’s live shows into the mix, with driving drums and gritty guitars, and a definite nod to The Black Keys and The White Stripes. Using its blend of distorted, frantic energy and lyrics about the turbulence of a relationship, it feels like an angsty anthem for anyone caught in a cycle of uncertainty. ‘Picasso’ follows with an upbeat, indie-pop feel. The song taps into emotional metaphors and blends catchy melodies with deeper themes about self-identity and self-reflection, embracing imperfections, and finding beauty in tragedy (a common theme amongst the late Pablo Picasso’s artwork).

A metaphor of dating and attempting to find love, ‘Daisies’ is a universally relatable track that delves into that seemingly never-ending search, with introductory lyrics, ‘I’ve been picking daisies / Running through the field till my feet go numb.’ solidifying this. Written at Wendy House Studios in London with Ina Wroldsen (Calvin Harris) and finished in the legendary Flux Studios in New York with BOOTS (Beyoncé, Run the Jewels), Holy Grail takes the album in a different direction, with a slower, more intimate build that expands into something much more complex. Demonstrating Brad’s maturity, both in the songwriting and his assured vocal delivery, “‘Holy Grail’ is a song about realising that going through ups and downs with someone you love makes it worth it.”, Simpson explains. “It was one of the harder ones on the album to finish because it felt quite delicate and anything we added really needed to earn its place in the production.”. Finally, sixth single ‘Carpet Burn’ is “a song about wanting more time with someone special to you”, using a perfect concoction of contemporary sounds and a warm 70s tinged aesthetic to enhance this. Exposing his vulnerability by revealing his own authentic experiences in the song, the choral lyrics ‘I’ll take every moment I get / But, it gets me down that I didn’t know you before we met’ capture the essence of these universally heartfelt emotions flawlessly.

Picking the pace back up for the second half of The Panic Years, ‘Getting Clear’ boasts ’80s synth and psychedelia sounds, diving into the development of those early relationship stages to that of a more established romance, and the clarity that comes with this. One of the many tracks Simpson has been playing to fans since early 2024, and the latter not yet performed live, neighbouring tracks ‘Not Us Anymore’ and ‘Almost’ symbolise the breakdown of a relationship. Slightly predictable sounding at times, Not Us Anymore emanates sounds similar to that of The Vamps’ ‘Night & Day’ 2017 album, although this is perhaps a part of the songs’ charm. Opening with a romantic and waltzing beat, ‘Almost’ explores the complexities of love, with contradicting lyrics throughout: ‘You were almost the best thing that happened to me’ instantiates the reality of heartache, lust, and being so close to finding the love you desire, a common theme present in The Panic Years’ tracklist.

‘Favourite Band’, a fun, karma-filled, track focusing on the pain and freedom of moving on, enunciates Bradley’s vocal strength impeccably, boasting those familiar irresistible pop melodies throughout. This track is a perfect example of the diversity Simpson has to offer with his vocals, and potentially one of the highest ranking tracks on the album. Although not entirely new to fans since being played live, the studio version of this track will certainly be a fan favourite, with many new layers to break down sonically to the previously played live-version. Dispute speculation that this next track was about The Vamps, ‘The Band’s Not Breaking Up’ brings the tone of The Panic Years back down a notch, and explores the loss of love simultaneously with the growing strength of friendship; ‘You ask about the boys and I tell you we’re brothers-in-arms’. With Simpson’s stunning and emotionally captivated vocals taking centre stage amongst , there is no doubt that Brad has achieved his goals to “let [fans] into a side of [his] life that [he hasn’t] shared before.”.

Closing off his debut album, we have titular track ‘The Panic Years’. Potentially the most raw and vulnerable track from Bradley on The Panic Years album, the Brummie touches on youth and nostalgia, pre the reality of adulthood and the high expectations of you that come with being in your 20s. Progressing throughout the track, it is clear that this is an ode to love, potentially towards his bandmates from The Vamps, who all share the bond of navigating their ‘panic years’ together, ‘10 more years of panic […] next to you’. The song comes to a steady close, giving fans a chance to reflect and really take in all that emotion; with this track being the complete and perfect encapsulation of life, love, lust and learning, Simpson could not have chosen a more suited title track for the album.

Throughout ‘The Panic Years’, Bradley Simpsons’ collaborations with Grammy-winner BOOTS (Beyoncé, Run the Jewels), Andrew Wells (Phoebe Bridgers), Ina Wroldsen (Calvin Harris), and Anthony Rossomando (Liam Gallagher) elevate the album’s production, but the heart of the record remains personal and authentic. From the anthemic energy of ‘Always Like This’ to the deeply personal moments of ‘The Panic Years’ and ‘Holy Grail’, the album takes listeners on a journey through love, self-discovery, and life’s most emotional moments. Bradley’s perfected approach to songwriting and his willingness to expose his vulnerabilities make this album feel like an open invitation into his world, with his ability to blend personal storytelling with a diverse sound palette is what sets this album apart. The Panic Years proves that Brad is not just a frontman, but an artist carving out his own path; this debut solo album marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Bradley Simpson, and it’s clear the best is yet to come.