5 Songs I Love w/ Ben Hazlewood

Ben Hazlewood has returned with his latest single, 'SPIRAL', a wonderfully adventurous rock anthem tracking the ebb and flow of healing.

Symbolising Hazlewood's newest chapter in his music, he adds to an existing discography filled with introspective and powerfully vulnerable storytelling. Drawing on his own experiences of mental health, 'SPIRAL' is made doubly meaningful alongside his initiative for The Trevor Project - the leading suicide prevention non-profit for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

He shares, “Pride Belongs Here is a powerful reminder that LGBTQ+ youth and allies deserve to feel pride in who they are, wherever they live. Together, we can send a clear message: You are not alone. I’m looking to make a real impact — and I would love your support. Whether you donate $5 or $500, every bit helps. Your gift will provide suicide prevention and crisis intervention services, and help fund The Trevor Project’s mission to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.”

You can find the link to donate here and other resources here. 

On the track, Hazlewood shares, “From the depths of struggle emerges "Spiral," a testament to tenacity and resilience. After years of battling mental health challenges, music became my truest lifeline. At my lowest, I was caught in a spiral of self-destruction, heading toward rock bottom “scanned for exits I won’t walk through.” But I began to find the strength to face my trauma and do the work to turn my life “180 from a spiral.” Healing isn’t linear; it’s messy and hard. But like wildflowers growing through the harshest of elements, I’ve learned that I can thrive. "Spiral" is an intimate yet anthemic reflection of a fight born from the lowest lows, yet soaring with the empowerment of reclaiming life and strength.”

In his own words, Hazlewood shares 5 songs that inspired the making of 'SPIRAL':

"Slip Away" - Perfume Genius 

Both Perfume Genius’s “Slip Away” and my song “Spiral” channel emotional tension into something powerful and cathartic. I’ve always admired how “Slip Away” builds with urgency and defiance, and I wanted “Spiral” to mirror that intensity from inner chaos to release. We both use dynamic, cinematic production and vocals that move from tender to explosive. As queer artists, there’s a shared drive to express vulnerability with honesty and strength.

"Are you looking up"  - Mk.gee

Both “Are You Looking Up” by McGee and my song “Spiral” share key production elements that shape their emotional and cinematic feel. Both use reverb-drenched guitars and ambient synth layers to create a spacious, atmospheric backdrop. There's a strong emphasis on dynamic builds starting minimal and gradually adding textural layers, like swelling pads and subtle percussion, to drive emotional intensity. The drum programming in each is restrained but impactful, allowing the vocals to stay front and center. Both tracks also use vocal layering and delay effects to enhance emotion without overwhelming the mix. The result is a shared production style that feels expansive, emotional, and deeply immersive.

"Seventeen Going Under" - Sam Fender

With “Spiral,” I wanted to capture that same electric intensity I feel in Sam Fender’s “Seventeen Going Under.” There’s something about the way his music channels youthful angst through gritty guitars and explosive, arena-sized energy that really resonates with me. I leaned into that sound layered electric guitars, punchy drums, and atmospheric textures to build a track that feels raw, emotional, and massive. Like Sam, I aimed to create something that starts from a personal place but grows into a full-blown release, the kind of song that could fill a stadium and still feel deeply intimate.

"Screamland" - Father John Misty 

In Father John Misty’s “Scream (In the Joy of Being Lost in the Floodland)” and my song “Spiral,” there’s a shared vulnerability in both the vocal delivery and lyrical expressionthat cuts deep. Both tracks peel back layers of control to reveal something raw and exposed whether it’s Misty’s fragile, almost confessional tone or my own voice unraveling as Spiral builds. Lyrically, we both explore emotional descent his through surreal existential musings, mine through internal chaos but with the same goal: to let go, to surrender, and to be honest about what’s breaking us down. There’s a quiet desperation beneath the surface in both songs, a kind of beautiful collapse where the emotion isn’t just in the words it’s in how we let our voices crack open to carry them.

"Scream Drive Faster" - LAUREL 

Both LAUREL’s “Scream Drive Faster” and my song “Spiral” blend pop-synth energy with gritty guitar textures, creating a driving, emotionally charged sound. There’s a shared contrast between the upbeat, propulsive rhythm and the underlying emotional tension like we’re both racing through something we can’t quite outrun. The synths add momentum and brightness, while the distorted guitars ground the tracks with edge and urgency. Vocally, we both lean into intensity channeling that feeling of spiraling or speeding out of control but with control in the chaos. It’s that fusion of anthemic pop and raw rock grit that gives both songs their emotional punch and restless energy.

Listen to 'SPIRAL' here:

Watch the new music video for 'SPIRAL':

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