Recommended tracks: “something in the way you say my name,” “2 much 2 handle,” “when i die”
Artists you may like: Benson Boone, ROLE MODEL, Thomas Day
Aidan Bissett dives head first into the messy terrain of unrequited love and the desire for something or someone that is just out of reach on his debut album shut up and love me. Bissett has brought back yearning and quiet desperation, dressing it up with infectious hooks laced with alt-pop and indie-rock that’s as catchy as it is cathartic. The singer-songwriter used his studio time as a form of therapy, admitting,
“For years, I put myself in harm’s way, searching for something—and I wasn’t even aware of it until halfway through making this record.”
shut up and love me is a solid, cohesive record, but tracks like “something in the way you say my name,” “2 much 2 handle,” and “when i die” have a special spark that could lead to his next big hit.
Bissett’s craving for human connection sits at the heart of this album, writing songs that are universally relatable in their longing to feel seen, heard, and understood. “are we in love yet?” was the first song written for this project, and what began as a desperate plea for reciprocated feelings has evolved into a question that feels playful and seductive.
The singer’s goal for this album was to capture the same vibe of a live band, and it’s safe to say that he pulled it off. Nowhere is that more evident than on “2 much 2 handle,” a track that could easily fit into the discography of The 1975 with it’s auto-tuned verses and punchy, irresistible lyricism: “On the table I was kissing your mouth / Was it too much to handle? / Told your daddy that I slept on the couch / But he’s smart enough to figure it out.” As one of four singles, the song has amassed over 700,000 streams on Spotify and continues to rise as a fan favorite.
“reading into it” and “something in the way you say my name” are extensions of one another, both capturing the giddy feeling that comes with the early stages of a relationship where you smile at every text and get butterflies from a glance or touch. “reading into it” is electric and upbeat, mirroring the initial adrenaline of falling fast, while “something in the way you say my name” takes a moodier, more seductive route, but still carries a playful energy. In the chorus, Bissett repeats the title phrase three times, placing special emphasis on the word “say” the final time, a vocal choice that is similar to the way R.E.M. punctuated the word “fire” in “The One I Love,” ensuring that the phrase lands and lingers.
Throughout the entirety of this album, Bissett wrestles with the idea of putting yourself on the line, but getting nothing in return. “weak end” explores the moment when you realize you were the safety net—the person they turn to when there’s no one else. Continuing on with similar themes, “when i die” is a hauntingly cinematic ballad, and if it had been released 15 years prior, its dark, dramatic heartbreak vibe would have likely landed it in The Twilight Saga.
Rather than offering a tidy conclusion, Bissett chose to end the album on a song that leaves you sitting in an uncomfortable space between awareness and action. “I didn’t want to end the album on a happy note. That’s just not realistic, I’m still working through things,” he says. “bloodtype” serves as a reminder that understanding a problem doesn’t always come with an immediate solution and sometimes you have to keep digging for the answer. Bissett leaves us with this:
“The chorus is me realizing I have this disease, but not knowing how to fix it. Who am I supposed to ask about this?”
Get ready to dance and sing your hearts out on the shut up and love me tour, kicking off on September 14, 2025 in San Diego, California. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now.
shut up and love me tour dates:
9/14 – San Diego, CA – Music Box
9/15 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
9/17 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
9/18 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar
9/20 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
9/21 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
9/22 – Orlando, FL – The Social
9/24 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
9/25 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft
9/27 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall
9/28 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
9/30 – Washington DC – The Atlantis
10/1 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
10/2 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
10/4 – Montreal, QC – Le Ministere
10/5 – Toronto, ON – The Axis Club
10/7 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
10/10 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival
10/11 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
10/13 – Denver, CO – Meow Wolf Denver
10/14 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex – The Grand
10/16 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
10/17 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
10/18 – Portland, OR – Holocene
10/20 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
10/22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
Keep up with Aidan Bissett: Instagram // TikTok // X // Spotify // Youtube
