John Blek – unveils new single ‘With You’ + official video

One of Ireland’s most creative and independent artists, John Blek releases new track With You today – the second single from forthcoming studio album The Midnight Ache, set for release on January 16th 2026.

With You is a gentle reflection on staving off the loneliness and quiet anxieties that can creep in when life slows down – an arm around the shoulder of those who need it and offer of a chance for solace.

“I tour on my own most of the time and often find myself sitting alone in bars, cafes and restaurants,” explains John. “It’s often a nice time to just sit and be, but of course when tour tiredness hits, the blues and loneliness can creep in. ‘With You’ is me trying to comfort myself, and the others I see in the same situation.”

The track sets the tone for upcoming album The Midnight Ache, a staggeringly beautiful and perfectly formed piece of alternative folk with a lo-fi heart and touches of modest grandeur. It’s the work of an artist with a voice that could break a heart in two, and songs that could heal the most weary of souls.

With 11 beautiful recordings, this time around John has taken his DIY spirit one step further. Not only did he self-record and produce the majority of the album, he went so far as to build the recording studio with his own bare hands. A labour of love but labour all the same.

In April 2024 Blek finished building his new creative home, Bigger River Recording Co., and set about working on what would become The Midnight Ache. Echos of Sea Change-era Beck and Sparklehorse give this record a lo-fi intimacy while the string arrangements balance the sound with an element of grandeur and sophistication.

Home is very much at the heart of The Midnight Ache, it features vocal performances by John’s wife, and even the cover is adorned with pressed flowers from their garden. Additional production and mixing was done by regular collaborator Brian Casey at Wavefield Recordings.

Speaking on the release, John says “This album took me by surprise. I was slowly writing and using the songs to try to get to know the new studio space. Sonically feeling my way around and seeing what I could achieve when all of a sudden I realised I was looking at a new record.”

The Midnight Ache will be released on the 16th of January on John’s own label Bigger River Recording Co. 

TOUR:

JANUARY
16            CARRICK ON SUIR, Tearoom Sessions

FEBRUARY
06        KILKENNY, Cleere’s
08        KINSALE, Prim’s Bookshop
13        DUBLIN, Whelan’s
15        CORK, Coughlan’s

Tickets available from https://johnblek.com/tour/

Album pre-order: https://johnblek.com/shop/