"Everything in Episode goes back to my struggle to interpret, or reinterpret, my life and its central relationships, after having my concept of reality overturned," he says. "It may sound dramatic, but it's hard to know if you can trust how you feel about a partner, a situation, a future, when you've sat in a hospital bed, shredded a newspaper, sat back and watched it come together."

Due out 7 April, Episode is a record of incredible capacity, where you find true catharsis, the kind of record you don't often find. There is a musical fusion between its rawness and its superb production. Ben Gregory's debut album is euphoric and reflective, with heartfelt and even funny moments. But most importantly it highlights his immense talent as a songwriter. “The songwriting journey begins in the bedroom and it ends, inevitably, in the bedroom” says Ben in a genuine and must read essay published last week in The Quietus. It is an incredibly sensible and exciting piece; coincidentally two adjectives that define his debut album.

The use of the word episode is also a perfect way to define this album. Not only because of the clear reference to living through difficult times, but structurally. Going through different genres, the most innovative thing about the logistics of this album is its length and the permissiveness that the artist has brought to the structure and construction of the songs; it may seem like we are listening to two songs in one, but it is more than that, it is the ability to capture the different range of emotions contained in a single narrative as a way of being true to the moment that may have inspired these songs, and their changing nature. And when it comes to mental health and its social conversation, this is a real asset.

Deathbed Hangover was the first song we got to hear from this project, back in late 2022, and it's a strong and powerful starter to get us into Ben's solo music; as he says "it represented my comeback in the most jarring and abstract way". Manifest* came in second place earlier this year with a great chorus, and a great video directed by Dave East that coincidentally ended up being shot in Berlin, in the very place the song is about. The lyrics are some of the best of the whole record (No lip could move, a quivering worm / An expression that's hard to discern / But I get uptight when they question our worth / It's uncountable, some things can't be martialled into rows).

And a month ago we were able to discover the colossally ambitious ten-minute centrepiece of the album blue sea blue, an amazing piece that begins to build ritually and takes us on a journey of catharsis and the good that can come out of struggle. 10 minutes of incredible song and a video directed by Natàlia Pagès Geli that is a fantastic representation of the lyrics for an art film in which Ben is the traveller and we are the passengers on this emotional journey. Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets) and Matt Twaites helped Ben produce the album in what we imagine is the perfect setting for creating music after hard experiences; enjoying good times with mates you trust.

But there is much more to this ambitious album, written in 10 days. Episodes will be released on 7 April and contains the singer's ability to capture through stunning writing the state of human relationships as we struggle in a time when technology creates constant alienation at both ends of communication. (poetic moments, witty observations, gorgeous metaphors and a lot of reflection) that uniquely represent Ben's experiences, through his tender voice that feels both determined and gentle. It is one of the best British albums you will hear this year.

We had the chance to listen to the whole thing and talk to Ben about the creation and production process, what's behind the lyrics, inspiration, the music industry and other pretty interesting things.