Rising solo artist Hey Gorgeous releases the debut album International Breakthroughs – arriving as a glittering 11-track statement that folds together guitar rock affection, noughties nostalgia, jumping between infectious pop-punk and moments which lean towards alternative-electronic and synthpop.
At its core, though, the album is not just genre play, It is the journey of moving from his role in the visual contemporary arts world, and its restless struggle, into finding the correct medium to house his creativity.
That sense of movement between forms runs through the record’s sequencing. Previously released single ‘Rocker On A Club Run’ appears as an early anchor, while ‘Lights Aloft’ blurs the line between the youthful hysteria of MGMT and wraps up like an Oasis single. Elsewhere, tracks like ‘Dropping Direct’ embrace pop-punk energy, while ‘Go Team’ and ‘Half-Us’ lean into influences from Dinosaur Jr. and Smashing Pumpkins.
The album’s closing stretch expands into something more atmospheric. ‘Unicity Under the Stars’ and ‘Thunder’ form an instrumental five-and-a-half-minute winding road, accompanied by synth pads, sunburnt textures, and accordion. It does not resolve so much as it drifts outward, reinforcing the sense that this record is a celebration of who Hey Gorgeous wants to be in his field. Unique, charming, and accomplished, without losing the sense of fun that comes through many of International Breakthroughs tracks.
The spark for the project, however, came from an unexpected place. Not a peer, colleague, or meet your heroes moment, but instead, via a Costa Rican turtle.
“A few years ago, I traveled to Ostional, Costa Rica, for an art project focused on endangered species. Music was only a fantasy back then. I intended to collect and mold olive ridley turtle tracks on the beach, bring them back to my Montreal studio, and transform them into artworks. I paid for the trip myself and was completely broke. After a week without seeing a single turtle, disappointment slowly set in.
The trip simply was not going to work. On my final night before leaving, I returned to the beach one last time. And there was she. A solitary olive ridley turtle nesting beneath a sky full of stars while the ocean raged and thunder rolled in the distance. After laying her eggs, she slowly made her way back to the sea. Just before disappearing into the waves, she turned and looked at me. It felt as though she spoke without words: “Nice to meet you, fellow human. Everything will be okay with your art, your career, and your life. Put things into perspective, and never let art become anything other than a channel for self-growth and a way to contribute your share to the world. Enjoy this wild journey. I now have to return to mine.”
In that moment, every anxiety-driven thought I had been carrying dissolved. I felt connected to the ocean, the thunder, the stars, and that beautiful turtle. I felt overwhelming joy simply for being there, at that very moment. I still try to carry that positive and profound momentum today. Not always easy, but hey, this album is a way to anchor it and never forget. I hope it echoes in others too.”
As Hey Gorgeous, aka Peet Massé wrote, “This album is dedicated to her”.
