James Arthur is poised to share a completely new side of himself, having undergone a journey of personal growth and self-acceptance that has led to some of his best music to date. The British star’s remarkable sixth album, Pisces, comes hot on the heels of 2024’s chart-topping Bitter Sweet Love, which was supported by a sold-out arena tour in the UK and Ireland. It’s a work with human connection at its heart, influenced by the Brit Award-nominated artist’s experiences as a father, a partner and a friend, melding influences spanning Pop, Rock, Americana and indie.

The album’s title, Pisces, speaks to his intuitive, empathetic and multifaceted nature, but also to the dichotomous sound that permeates these songs. Fans will hear tracks that represent the push-and-pull of his longing to be understood, pitted against his instinct to hide away from the world. Some are hushed and introspective, while others blaze with life: “I’ve always been a dreamer, quite sensitive,” he says. “That crossover between dreams and reality was something that really spoke to me for this record.”

In the past, some critics have rushed to dismiss Arthur as a one-trick pony, perhaps blinkered by the ballads that have racked up hundreds of millions of streams and countless radio plays that, in 2024, saw him become one of a rare group of artists to win the Brits Billion award. He throws down the gauntlet on “Yeah, No”, a thrilling, breathless Rock number, before diving into the depths of “Water”, another curveball that sees him switch from a sultry rock croon into an emotionally wrought cry. On “Hallelujah”, he tussles with questions of faith that have grown louder since the birth of his daughter.

“Really, I just want to give my fans an insight into how I’ve been feeling over the years,” he says. “I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people. This is me at my most vulnerable.”

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