Thomas Headon – ‘i loved a boy’
Rising bedroom pop artist Thomas Headon fixes a broken heart with ‘i loved a boy,’ the first single of 2023.
Londoner-come-Aussie Thomas Headon first gained traction in 2020 in what seems to have become the world’s hotspot for hidden talent: TikTok. From lockdown live sessions to being his listeners’ best friends, everybody loves him – irrespective of him being your particular cup of tea. 2022’s ‘Victoria’ EP was what really made this loveable 20-something hit the ground running. Radio play, a feature on hit-show Heartstopper, and a sold out show or two – it’s all happened incredibly quickly but none of this has stopped Headon writing from the heart.
‘i loved a boy’ is Headon’s first release of the new year but isn’t the track’s debut. It was played at a show in 2022 to the positive reception of fans, but only “now felt like the perfect time to put it out.” The single was written as a piece of advice on how to get over a breakup, but it’s a gorgeous little song whether your heart needs healing or not. Mellow lyrics are paired with an uplifting beat, and Thomas’ soft alt-pop vocals bring a smile to the face.
Headon reveals that ‘i loved a boy’ is “the first song that isn’t from my perspective,” which opens it up to the listener – he’s providing a voice for, and channelling, somebody else’s emotions, which helps us find more solace within its words. What it lacks in length – the song coming up to just under 2 minutes 30 – it makes up for in style and substance. It’s hopeful, almost, like a message of “it’ll get better” is, gently, of course, thrown out at us. If this is just the beginning of Thomas Headon’s 2023, we can’t wait to see where it goes next.
Words by Zo Waggitt
