Writer and poet Joshua Idehen announces details of his debut Heavenly album ‘I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try.’ Made with his creative partner, musician Ludvig Parment, the album will be released on Friday 6th March 2026.
Following his appearance this weekend on Later…with Jools Holland, British-born, Stockholm-based Nigerian Idehen, has today also shared ‘It Always Was’ the first track to be taken from the album.
Talking about the track Joshua said:
The track is accompanied by a fantastically creative and personal split-screen video directed by Jonny Sanders, who said:
“Joshua is on the phone to himself reminiscing about friendship and good times. Filmed half in London and half in Stockholm the two cities are like past and present, concrete and nature. As the idea evolved we found ourselves filming around Joshua’s childhood home in Hackney and then his current home in Stockholm with guest appearances from his mum and daughter. It turned out to be a more personal piece than I had first anticipated.”
• WATCH THE VIDEO •
Joshua added:
“This is our first video with Jonny and from the moment we met at my mum’s I had the feeling this was gonna be a good one. No other director has had the cheek to ask my mum to be in a music video. Turns out my mum has been waiting for this moment. “Hold on! let me wear something”. And then, when we got to Stockholm, he asked my daughter. She was a lot less enthusiastic.”
• WATCH THE PERFORMANCE ON ‘LATER… WITH JOOLS HOLLAND •
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• ‘I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try’ •
• TRACK-LIST • PRE-ORDER ON VINYL OR CD • RELEASED ON MARCH 6TH, 2026 •
After nearly two decades in London’s poetry scene, Joshua Idehen found widespread recognition with the viral success of ‘Mum Does The Washing’, a poignant, witty piece set to music by his creative partner Ludvig Parment (aka Saturday, Monday) which has led to sold-out shows, major festival appearances—including Glastonbury—and a new chapter in Idehen’s artistic life.
Originally drawn to film, Idehen’s poetic journey began after being captivated by Dizzee Rascal’s Vexed on Channel U. Inspired by artists like Scroobius Pip, he began blending poetry with music, working with bands like LV, Benin City, and Sons of Kemet. His performance career grew alongside deep personal challenges, including a divorce and struggles with mental health. A move to Stockholm during the COVID-19 pandemic gave him space to reflect and begin anew.
That rebirth led to ‘I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try,’ is a cathartic, euphoric album blending themes of grief, joy, and healing. Made with Parment, it’s a sonic embrace for the weary, mixing house-inflected beats, choral flourishes, and lyrical meditations on hope, self-worth, and collective resilience. Drawing on friendships, fatherhood, and the redemptive power of music, Idehen creates work that doesn’t shy away from pain—but always points toward light.
• READ MORE ABOUT THE ALBUM HERE •
Having recently headlined a couple of sold-out Jazz Café dates in London, before which he played at both this year’s Glastonbury and Green Man festivals, Joshua has announced his own headline U.K. & EU tour next spring and a run of Baxter Dury supports later this year.
• Tour Dates and Tickets • On general sale Friday at 10am. •
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