'Just Friends' and 'Something About You' artist, Hayden James will release his sophomore album titled 'LIFTED' in April.
The follow-up to his ARIA-nominated debut record 'Between Us' in 2019, the Australian producer-DJ collaborated with a number of artists on the new project including Boo Seeka, Jem Cooke, and SIDEPIECE as well as YAEGER on the album's previous single 'Waiting For Nothing'.Inspired to bring euphoric joy and uplifting emotion into people's lives given the circumstances of the past two years, the next sample of 'LIFTED' is latest single, the piano-drenched house banger 'Hold Tight'.
"'LIFTED' was born out of the yearning for some light and positivity after a tough last few years for everyone," James says.
"As I started writing the album, I kept coming back to the idea of creating something energetic and live and super uplifting that could bring people together again.
"I began working on the album late 2020 and used all the time off I had from touring to make something special because I knew the return to live music would be epic, a major vibe.
"The result is a huge emotional, energetic dance record, with elements of piano house, melodic house and a positive tone and feel that can be found across all tracks.
"When I write an album, everything has a place and a purpose, and it's all part of the bigger story. I'm so happy with the journey of this album."
Years in the making, 'Hold Tight' opens with uplifting, classic house chords surrounded by swelling synths, before the emphatic vocals take centre stage.
"This is a big, summertime piano house record that took a while to perfect but once it was done I knew it would fit the vibe of the album perfectly," Hayden says of 'Hold Tight'.
"I also really love the meaning of the song, which is about two people who are drifting away at moments but come back to realise what's important.
"I like people to figure out songs themselves, I don't like to go 'this is what this song is specifically about', because there's so many different meanings that people take away, so many different lessons from different songs.
"But this one, it feels like such a strong call to hang in there, and get back to what you love doing or back to that person you love and just hold tight."
'Lifted' is scheduled for release 8 April. Pre-order it.
Lifted Tracklisting
1. Lights Go Down with SIDEPIECE2. Hold Tight
3. Fade feat. Flynn
4. On Your Own with Cassian & Elderbrook
5. Waiting For Nothing feat. Yaeger
6. Free feat. Boo Seeka
7. Down On Me feat. Xavier Dunn
8. Lifted feat. Tudor
9. I Won't Let You Down with Jem Cooke
