Joey Miceli’s sophomore album, Pretenders, lands today, and it’s a striking leap forward for the singer-songwriter who’s been quietly shaping a unique niche in the music world. With his signature ethereal sound and fearless emotional honesty, Miceli crafts a sprawling concept LP that pulls back the curtain on the masks we all wear. Exploring themes of identity, longing, and society’s obsession with status, Pretenders challenges listeners to confront what it means to be ‘enough’ in a world full of pretension.
We’d already had a taste of what was to come with two singles, Remedy and Heavy Hand. The first one is a haunting duet with dark-pop queen Lexxe, Packed with electrifying synths and cinematic guitars, the track captures the heartbreak of a one-sided friendship that leaves you wondering why you cared so much in the first place. Miceli co-wrote it with friend Abigayle Oakley, and the chemistry with Lexxe's vocals only deepens its impact.
The second one, released just a week before the album, is a biting, theatrical anthem about the ruthless cost of chasing fame. Joey doesn’t hold back here, imagining a fiery showdown with the music industry’s power players, willing to “sign a contract in blood” just to make it.
Joey Miceli’s musical journey started early –he released his first single at eleven– and since then, he’s only gotten more focused and fearless. Pretenders is his boldest statement yet: a soul-searching record that questions the systems shaping who we are, wrapped in a sound that’s equal parts dreamy and gripping. He is proving he’s an artist to watch closely. The future looks bright, and Pretenders, this fourteen-track record, is just the beginning.