Joshua Idehen – It Always Was
Joshua Idehen draws inspiration from a specific memory for “It Always Was,” the lead single from his debut album on Heavenly Recordings. The British-born, Stockholm-based Nigerian artist built the track around nights spent crammed into a Mazda with friends, driving around London and ending up on benches to watch the sunrise. One friend’s line stuck with him for a decade: “What’s meant for me will find me anyway.”
The production pairs a jubilant soul sample with springy bass, letting Idehen’s delivery ride comfortably over the top. Working with musician Ludvig Parment, he crafted the album after moving to Stockholm during the pandemic, using that distance to process divorce and mental health struggles. The result combines house-inflected beats with choral touches and spoken-word meditation.
Director Jonny Sanders split the video between London and Stockholm, filming around Idehen’s childhood home in Hackney and his current residence. His mum makes an appearance (after insisting on changing clothes first), along with his daughter. Sanders captures the past and present, concrete against nature.
The whole album, titled “I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try,” drops March 6, 2026. Idehen has recently sold out Jazz Café dates in London and has UK and European dates lined up for next spring, as well as November support slots with Baxter Dury.
I’ll catch him opening for Baxter Dury in Heidelberg on December 2nd.
Tracklist:
- You Wanna Dance Or What?
- Interlude – It Won’t Always Be Like This
- It Always Was
- This Is The Place
- Interlude – What You Need To Hear
- Could Be Forever
- Mum Does The Washing
- Don’t Let It Get You Down
- My Love
- Interlude – How I Found Forgiveness
- Brother
- Whatever Comes
- Choose Yourself
- Everything Everywhere All At Once
- Everything Everywhere All At Once Reprise
- Turn It Around
- What Is Redemption
Tour Dates:
Europe (Baxter Dury Support)
- November 25, 2025 – AB Brussels, Belgium
- November 26, 2025 – L’Aeronef, Lille, France
- November 27, 2025 – Kantine, Cologne, Germany
- November 28, 2025 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- November 30, 2025 – Uebel & Gefaehrlich, Hamburg, Germany
- December 1, 2025 – Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
- December 2, 2025 – Karlstorbahnhof, Heidelberg, Germany
- December 4, 2025 – La Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
- December 5, 2025 – Rocher de Palmer, Bordeaux, France
- December 6, 2025 – Transbordeur, Lyon, France
- December 8, 2025 – Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona, Spain
- December 9, 2025 – Sala But, Madrid, Spain
- December 10, 2025 – LAV 2, Lisbon, Portugal
Europe (Headline Tour 2026)
- March 12, 2026 – Balzaal Vooruit, Gent, Belgium
- March 13, 2026 – Bittzoet, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- March 14, 2026 – Hasard Ludique, Paris, France
- March 16, 2026 – Veedel, Cologne, Germany
- March 17, 2026 – Gretchen, Berlin, Germany
- March 18, 2026 – Betty, Hamburg, Germany
- March 19, 2026 – Feinkostlampe, Hannover, Germany
- March 21, 2026 – Inkons, Malmo, Sweden
- April 18, 2026 – Motel Mozaique Festival, Netherlands
- May 7, 2026 – Fashing, Stockholm, Sweden
- May 14, 2026 – Scala 3, Barcelona, Spain
- May 15, 2026 – Sala El Sol, Madrid, Spain
- May 16, 2026 – Casa do Capitão, Lisbon, Portugal
- May 17, 2026 – Scorro, Porto, Portugal
North America (UK/Ireland – Baxter Dury Support)
- November 11, 2025 – Mandela Hall, Belfast
- November 12, 2025 – Vicar Street, Dublin
- November 14, 2025 – SWG3 TV Studio, Glasgow
- November 15, 2025 – Albert Hall, Manchester
- November 16, 2025 – O2 Academy, Leeds
- November 18, 2025 – Rock City, Nottingham
- November 19, 2025 – Tramshed, Cardiff
- November 21, 2025 – The Dome, Brighton
- November 22, 2025 – Hammersmith Apollo, London
- November 23, 2025 – O2 Academy, Bristol
North America (UK/Ireland – Headline Tour 2026)
- April 14, 2026 – Chalk, Brighton
- April 15, 2026 – The Phoenix, Exeter
- April 16, 2026 – Electric Bristol, Bristol
- April 17, 2026 – Gorilla, Manchester
- April 20, 2026 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
- April 21, 2026 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
- April 22, 2026 – MASH, Cambridge
- April 23, 2026 – KOKO, London
- April 25, 2026 – The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin, Ireland
