Rising star Joel Stoker is set to make a splash on the UK music scene with the release of his debut solo album ‘The Undertow’. Despite no radio play or promotion, the album is currently sitting at Number 10 in the midweek charts.
Stoker, who is also the frontman for The Rifles, has been hard at work writing and recording the album since the start of the pandemic, with only drummer Brendan O’Neill, keyboardist Dean Mumford and ex-Menswear member Stuart Black lending hand in instrumentation.
Speaking to NME about his upcoming success, Stoker said he was “taken aback” and that the chart position “didn’t even cross the mind”. He credits the album’s success to the solid fanbase of The Rifles and the resurgence of vinyl, which has allowed fans to discover the record organically.
The Rifles are also currently back in the studio, working on a new album. Stoker wrote a collection of songs about a year and a half ago, but felt they weren’t good enough. After going back to the drawing board, the band has now recorded the drums and bass and are in the process of ‘colouring them in’.
The solo album is deeply personal for Stoker, with the title track ‘My Own War’ being about his struggles with anxiety. He hopes that by speaking about it, it will help to normalise the conversation around mental health and remind people “it’s never as bad as it seems to be”.
The singer also supported Liam Gallagher at his low-key KOKO gig and is set to embark on a string of solo shows throughout September, October and November.
Stoker is hoping to encourage people to take care of their mental health, by speaking out and seeking help. There are a variety of organisations available in the UK who provide support and advice for those struggling with mental health, such as The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Help Musicians UK, Music Support Org, Young Minds and Time To Change.
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