Brighton singer-songwriter Jimmy Herrity makes a poignant return with the intimate and heartfelt new single ‘Lost Boys’.
A stirring meditation on grief, loss, and the relentless passage of time, the track highlights Herrity’s raw and heart-on-the-sleeve approach to storytelling, blending a delicate soundscapes with deeply personal themes. Opening with a soft bed of fingerpicked electric guitar and a surrounding swell of bubbling, reverby atmospherics, Herrity’s reflective, emotive vocal delivery takes centre stage as he delivers a gentle and tender vocal.
Adding a beautifully placed vocal harmony in the chorus, the track gradually builds towards a beautifully close as buzzing electronic bass, layers of picked guitars, and tight drums enter. As the tracks climax hits, the track draws comparisons to Radiohead, Bon Iver or The National with its use of layering and warming textures.
Thematically, the track resonates with feelings of helplessness, grief, and the ever-looming passage of time. Herrity has nurtured various versions of this track over the years, with its meaning further deepened by a series of personal losses, including the tragic suicide of his brother, the end of a five-year relationship, and the more recent death of his close friend, James Macnish. The latter was a particularly significant loss, as Herrity and his guitarist performed ‘Lost Boys’ at Macnish’s funeral, adding another layer of poignancy to the track.
Herrity explains: “‘Lost Boys’ is about that gnawing feeling of wishing you’d done more with your time and yearning for something to save you. It’s a reflection on self-doubt, with verses that cascade through uncertainty and a pre-chorus that paints romantic, wintry imagery of better days to come. The chorus—’Well, I haven’t seen much of the sea this summer’—is an analogy for feeling like time is slipping away.“
Originally titled ‘The Lost Boy,’ Herrity renamed the track ‘Lost Boys’ to reflect the multiple people he has lost, particularly his brother and close friend. Over time, the song has gained more emotional weight and history, making it a powerful tribute to the connections he’s had and lost. Herrity remarks, “It’s been around for a while and seems to keep taking on more meaning. Which is funny because it was already pretty fucking sad.“
Following performances at the Isle of Wight Festival and other key slots at Washed Out, Neon, and Icebreaker, Herrity is gearing up for his biggest headline shows yet, scheduled for December 2024. ‘Lost Boys’ is a perfect example of Jimmy Herrity’s ability to capture his feelings within a track whilst displaying a musical understanding and moments of beautiful musicality. Listen below:
