Joshua Idehen – I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone is Hurting, Everyone is Trying, You Have Got to Try
The title alone acts as a manifesto. On I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone is Hurting, Everyone is Trying, You Have Got to Try, UK poet and vocalist Joshua Idehen delivers a long-form emotional purge set against the backdrop of house rhythms, electronic soul, and gospel-infused chords.
Known for his iconic guest spots with Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, and Metronomy, Joshua Idehen steps fully into his own space here. He doesn’t offer neat solutions or toxic positivity; instead, he acknowledges shared exhaustion and translates it into collective energy on the dance floor.
A Dancefloor Sermon on Resilience
Built over driving house basslines, afro-centric percussion, and warm synth pads, the production provides an uplifting anchor for Idehen’s spoken-word delivery. His voice moves naturally between conversational intimacy and a preacher’s roar, addressing anxiety, self-doubt, and recovery with uncompromising honesty.
Tracks build patiently, using repeating rhythmic loops to create a hypnotic, sermon-like environment. Idehen doesn’t use club music as a distraction from reality; he uses its momentum to help listeners face heavy feelings head-on and move through them together.
The Verdict
I Know You’re Hurting… is a rare achievement in modern UK electronic music—an album that demands emotional presence while remaining rooted in movement and rhythm. It confirms Joshua Idehen not just as a brilliant collaborator, but as a vital solo voice.
