JJ Sweetheart’s latest single, “Lavishly,” from the upcoming debut album, gets you vibing and floating on heartbreak-pop. Released on July 18, 2025, the Minneapolis-based solo project of Jay Simonson (ex-Howler, France Camp) offers up a dreamy and emotionally cracked track, like a voicemail from someone trying their best to move on.
Right off the bat, “Lavishly” hits you with clanking, almost handmade percussion, while an ambient synth line rises like steam in the background. And then comes that airy voice, floating like it’s trying not to break. The vocals, recorded straight into a phone, double up later in the song with a second vocal layer that’s louder, more urgent, almost like a version of yourself arguing with your own soft denial and acceptance. It’s that duality—gentle and aching—that gives the track its quiet power.
The production here is charmingly rough around the edges, all run through BandLab, giving it that bedroom-recording intimacy that fans of Alex G or Cindy Lee would eat up. It’s got that “I’m-in-my-feelings-but-also-vibing” energy that turns heartbreak into a healing ritual. JJ Sweetheart calls it “trashy ass yearn pop for feral cry babies.”
“Lavishly” is the tone-setter for his upcoming full-length album, late 2025. Looks like it’s about to get a lot more emotionally synthy. Stay tuned for more.
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Review by: Naomi Joan