Joe Jonas, one-third of the globally popular Jonas Brothers, is venturing into new territory with his upcoming solo album, “Music for People Who Believe in Love.”
Unlike his 2011 solo debut album “Fastlife,” which aimed for nightclub pop hits, this latest musical effort draws from a period of significant personal and professional transition.
“I’ve been through a lot of changes in my life,” Jonas tells Billboard, reflecting on the past few years of his life, “finding out who I am as a person, as a father and as a friend, and living under the scrutiny of what the music industry can bring. And I think, at such a crazy time in my life, I turned to music as an escape.”
The former Disney Channel child star, now 35, has seen plenty of ups and downs over the past decade. From finding chart success with DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean” to reuniting with brothers Nick and Kevin on the Jonas Brothers’ 2019 comeback hit “Sucker,” Joe has navigated the ups and downs of fame while also managing the complexities of his personal life.
Outside of work, Joe has been busy taking care of his family life after marrying actress Sophie Turner in 2019, welcoming two daughters, and getting a high-profile divorce in 2023. All of this has contributed to shaping the artist he is today.
Drawing on his next album, Joe has created a 12-track album that defies the expectations of a conventional pop album. “Music for People Who Believe in Love” draws from a wide range of musical genres, from garage rock to ’90s country, weaving together a sound as diverse as Joe’s own experiences.
The album is set to be released on October 18 via Republic Records, and the tracks promise to give listeners and fans an inside look into Jonas’ world.
According to Billboard, standout tracks include “My Own Best Friend,” a poignant anthem that delves into the challenges of self-discovery with lyrics like, “Things you can’t imagine/Remind you of what you always had/Maybe they needed to happen/To let you know that the worst wasn’t so bad.”
The album also features “Velvet Sunshine”, a fuzz-infused synth track, “Hey Beautiful”, a lullaby dedicated to his daughters, and the lead single “Work It Out”, which discusses his “unsettled state of mind” over a melodic background.
Jonas revealed that the project began with the song “Only Love,” which he initially wrote with his brothers. The track, which was steeped in pop-rock energy, soon took a personal turn, pushing Jonas to explore his own sound and emotions.
“I realized the song was addressing some personal issues that I was going through,” Jonas recalls. “So I went to Kevin and Nick and said, ‘Hey, can I use this as a launching pad to explore what this sound could be, and also what I’m trying to figure out emotionally?’ They were very supportive—Nick was like, ‘Oh, shit, I really like that song. But I understand what you need to do, so go for it.’”
Joe quickly assembled a team of top collaborators, including Alexander 23, Justin Tranter, Jason Evigan and Tommy English, to bring his vision to life at the House of Blues studio in Los Angeles. The album, largely completed in just two and a half weeks, became a form of therapy for Jonas amid his recent divorce and tabloid attention.
“It’s scary sometimes, but it’s also liberating,” Jonas admitted to Billboard. “I’m not trying to get to anybody on this album. I’m not trying to blow things up. I have a beautiful life that I’m grateful for. I have two beautiful kids. I’m a happy person, and the music needs to be like that—but also like the journey to get here.”
For Joe, his next solo album is more than just another album; it’s a milestone in his career and personal life.
“Essentially, if this work helps people get through what they’re going through, that’s all I really want,” he said.
Tags Jonas Brothers, Joe Jonas