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Photo: Harrison Toohey 

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter jxdn, née Jaden Hossler, finally returns with his first single of 2024, "WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS." The sentimental single, which will also be featured on his upcoming sophomore album, expected to be released later this summer, sees the artist in his most vulnerable state yet with poignant lyrics and gut-wrenching vocals taking the helm.

Opening with quick-paced acoustic guitar strums, "WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS" frames Hossler's melancholic vocals crooning the sentiment to whoever he hopes is listening, "Oh, darlin' / Please don't worry/ Life gets better," he coos over the sparse instrumentation. Throughout the rest of the track, he continues to ask himself about his mental state. He wonders what will happen if he carries his regrets to the grave, all culminating in a dynamic chorus where he's faced with the uncomfortableness of silence and having to potentially embrace it and let go.

While celebrating his 23rd birthday with this release, the new heartfelt effort marks a significant point of reflection for jxdn, who elaborated on the moment, sharing, "The music of my life has started playing again. All I can think about is showing everyone what it sounds like."

The accompanying music video, directed by Hunter Moreno, is an emotional visual that follows the artist as he deals with waves of intense and intrusive thoughts and feelings—processing his state of being by shaving his head and watching footage of him and his friend Cooper Noreiga, who suddenly passed away in 2022, while sitting alone in an empty house. The video matches the underlying grittiness, sensitivity, and glimmer of hope and healing in its lyrical subject matter, drawing us all into the tear-inducing scene and making us all wish we, too,  had more time with the people we loved.

According to jxdn in a Twitter post, he explained that "sometimes u have to start at the end to understand how you got there." He shared that "When The Music Stops" isn't just a song but the beginning of his story and "the beginning of OUR story." The single follows the release of jxdn's 2023 singles "Chrome Hearted," "Elevated Heartbreak," and his cover of d4vd's "Romantic Homicide."

Watch the "WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS" video below: