Out Now: Acclaimed Alt Pop Duo ‘joan’ Release “Loner”

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The Little Rock, Arkansas-based artists are known for creating expansive pop music from inside their bedrooms in deepest Middle America. Their infectious blend of pop eras, DIY, self-sustaining aesthetic, and deep connection with their fanbase has resulted in international success with over 120 million streams and sold out shows across the globe including headlining 15,000+ capacity venues in Asia.

joan (Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford) have spent the past few years building their world, single by single, tour date by tour date; from their debut EP, 2019’s portra, to the much-loved cloudy & its sister EP partly cloudy, to 2021’s hi & bye EPs. Their songs have been streamed over 120 million times, with well over a million listeners a month across streaming platforms.

Released via Photo Finish Records, the latest single, titled “loner”, is the latest off of their highly anticipated debut album superglue set for release on April 19th. The band confides, “You know when you go to a party or really anything with crowds, and you have that sort of pit in your stomach because you don’t feel like you belong and you really just don’t to be there? That’s what loner is about — being in those situations and knowing you’re better off just sticking to your own corner and keeping to yourself. But, it’s also about someone walking into that party that sees you and gets you and feels the same way you do and you’re thinking, “I’d rather be alone, you’d rather be alone, should we be alone together?” and all the sudden the thought of being with someone doesn’t seem so bad”.

The artists have enjoyed U.S. and international tours supporting the likes of Jeremy Zucker, COIN, Bloc Party and The Aces, as well as playing to fans across Asia with headline shows and festivals in the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong – they return to Asia for the biggest shows yet, includes dates at a basketball arena and a theme park.

joan’s infectious blend of pop eras & styles belies their roots in Little Rock, Arkansas, but their sense of warmth and community from those around them at home gives their music a sense of belonging often missing from others and that extends to their fanbase, with whom they interact via a successful Patreon page and through free meet & greets at every show. 2023 promises to be the band’s biggest yet, with the release of their debut album and worldwide touring & festivals.

For further information on the artists and tour dates, visit the following links: