“ROCK MUSIC IS IN MY DNA” – YUNGBLUD RETURNS WITH EARTH-SHATTERING ROCK EPIC, ‘HELLO HEAVEN, HELLO’ AND RUMOURED DOUBLE LP

YUNGBLUD, also known as Dominic Harrison, has returned with Hello Heaven, Hello. More than four years in the making, the earth-shattering (9-minute) rock epic is the beginning to his biggest project to date. The Doncaster-hailing artist has been on a monumental journey since bouncing onto the scene more than 5+ years ago. He’s overcome struggles with mental health, battled with the pitfalls of fame and public image and addressed constant media allegations of authenticity.

The incessant allegations are what drove the artist to pour everything into his self-titled third record. While his career until that point had focused predominantly on his struggles, and then the experiences he’d gathered from his audience, this pivotal moment allowed him to position himself in a new light. YUNGBLUD was just that, providing refreshing moments to dance, a newfound confidence and an eye-opening insight into his recent mindset. However, musically the record came across as predictable and preaching a diluted message to a TikTok generation of listeners. An album that was marketed to reclaim his authenticity felt more confused than ever.

Hello Heaven, Hello is YUNGBLUD emerging with a clear vision. An inventive sound. And, ultimately on the real path to self-reclamation. The mind-bending single takes us through every part of his journey so far, split across three distinctive segments – most likely one for each album. There is not a moment in this track that you could predict, sliding cleverly from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin to Queen and Bowie, every influence which made YUNGBLUD so originally exciting is here in abundance. In fact, in the stunning music video, Harrison can be seen channelling Freddie Mercury with every move.

“Rock music is in my DNA. It’s the first genre I was ever exposed to; I grew up in a guitar shop with my Dad and my Grandfather. Rock music helped me find an identity as a human being”. explains YUNGBLUD.

The track sees YUNGBLUD at his best; lyrically, vocally and creatively. More importantly, it highlights the artist in a position of control, and pursuing something that feels like a long time coming. This re-calibration will also be a treat for the band, particularly best-friend Adam (guitar) who has at times been left under-utilised on recent efforts.

Stylistically, all of the visuals have included neutral tones, stepping away from the pink socks and colourful nature that’s become synonymous with his brand. These changes may seem small, but for an artist who’s built on a massive community, they can send shockwaves across an audience. The reception, however, has been overwhelmingly positive, making the risk more than worth it.

In an interview last year, Harrison explained how he ‘came to terms with each album being a personal thing’ and felt he’d been ‘catering to everybody’ and ‘this new album has more Dominic bleeding in’. This self-awareness is a huge moment and will unshackle the artist to new creative heights; pursuing his individuality rather than attempting to accommodate.

YUNGBLUD’s journey may have been full of twists and turns but his commitment to British and Rock heritage has always been nestled away – even in the more pop-leaning numbers which seemed to dominate his discography in recent times. Truthfully, his most imaginative moments have always been his best, and it shows. Creating a rock epic was always on the cards, after building similar efforts with The Boy In The Black Dress, the freak show and to an extent Kill Somebody.

As the track finishes, the lyrics “There’s a chance I may not see you tomorrow, so I will spend today saying hello, and all the hopes and dreams I may have borrowed, just know my friend I leave them all to you, hello” felt particularly poignant, and almost heartbreaking. This is a goodbye to the past, and a real ‘hello‘ to his new direction, where he plans to make big things.

Since the very beginning, YUNGBLUD has always pushed the boundaries, and somewhere along the way, it all became predictable. While not inherently bad, it did take away the edge from the dangerously sexy and risk-averse rock star we came to love. In some respects, without these moments, we wouldn’t have reached this point of self-discovery.

“I felt like I was starting to repeat myself – I’d fallen into my own cliche… I’d become comfortable. It was good in a way; it meant that I had my style. But I’ve always said that if people know where I’m going next, that is my idea of failure”.

Hello Heaven, Hello is easily one of the best efforts from this artist in a long time, and in a world which rewards short-term-reward, dropping a 9-minute single is certainly a statement. The best part about the track isn’t simply the Bohemian Rhapsody-esque segments, but the fact you are forced to listen from beginning to end. This is fast becoming uncommon in the modern world, and it’s thrilling to see a young artist breathe light on a style of craft which created some of rock’s best tracks.

Those who are remembered push the boundaries and defy all odds – and it’s clear YUNGBLUD, now 27, is on a path to follow some of his heroes. If it’s true he has a double album on the way, he may just get his moment in the history books sooner than we think.

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Ready for new music? You can catch YUNGBLUD at his own-curated festival, BLUDFEST, for its highly-anticipated second year on 21st June 2025. Tickets are on sale now.