After years of helping other artists bring their vision to life, is once again stepping into his own spotlight with his sophomore EP, ‘The Full Fantasy’. On the new record, the songwriter opens the door to a more complete version of himself, pairing the escapism of dance-pop and soul with complicated questions around identity, loneliness and self-acceptance.
Now that the project is finally out, the artist’s feeling is one of relief – a refreshing sense after the lead up left JHeart feeling “slightly manic”. But knowing he can genuinely stand behind the music has made it easier to release the anticipation. “I’m feeling calm, and relieved, and feeling a lot of gratitude,”, he explains, “Because I really love all of the music, so it makes it a lot easier to feel calm because I can really stand behind it.”
That sense of ownership has taken time to reach. For much of his career, has occupied a position behind the scenes, helping other artists articulate their experiences through music. But as he began working on himself through therapy, he started to understand that his reluctance to step forward was rooted in something deeper: a fear of being found out, bullied or exposed.
“It kind of built up over the years, to be honest, because I think as I started doing therapy and working on my internal shit and being comfortable with myself, I think a lot of that’s where a lot of the wanting to hide was rooted,” he reflects. “Just wanting to be behind the curtain, not wanting to be found out or be, I don’t know, bullied or something.”
The more comfortable he became with himself, the harder it was to ignore his own potential. Spending time around other industry professionals gave him a clearer understanding of his abilities, eventually prompting the realisation that remaining behind the scenes might mean selling himself short. “The more I worked on myself and the more I was around industry people and kind of realised the calibre of talent that I had, the more I felt like, oh, I’m kind of underserving myself by not pursuing this.”
The title ‘The Full Fantasy’ reflects the desire to explore his creativity without limitations. For , fantasy represents both an escape from the “insane, sometimes very dark world” that we live in, as well as the pursuit of becoming his “fullest self”. Having studied film before music, he curates his own online content while using fashion as another outlet of creativity – fully taking control of his persona. “I feel unlimited,”, he says, describing how being an artist in his own right allows him to explore multiple sides of himself.
This freedom also means confronting the less comfortable parts of his identity. On the track ‘Midnight Dancing’, a tempting dance-pop sound embraces more complicated explorations of loneliness, anxiety, and substance use. For JHart, the contrast reflects the contradictions of queer nightlife, where spaces can offer both escapism and genuine connection.
“I have struggled with numbing a lot,”, he explains, “There’s a lot of that woven into club culture and certain things about gay culture. It can make me feel lonely, but also make me feel so free when I’m in a place like the dancefloor with my friends.”
Rather than presenting these experience as black and white, Jhart wants his music to embrace the complexity. “I do feel like we are lacking nuance as a society, especially in online discourse,”, he says. Through his songwriting, he is able to acknowledge difficult feelings without losing the joy that exists alongside them.
Elsewhere, turns that introspection to his younger self. Looking back at the child he once was, JHart recognises a freedom he is still trying to rediscover. “I think he just needed to be reassured that there was nothing wrong with him. He was okay being a little effeminate,”, he reflects. Remembering himself putting on his mum’s high heels, he considers the reassurance he needed growing up: “You’re okay the way you are.”
It’s a sentiment that is prevalent beyond childhood. Watching old videos, he sees a version of himself who existed before years of self-conciousness began to take over. “There was such a freedom,”, he says, “That is something I have been trying to find again.”
For someone who spent years helping other artists tell their stories, learning to share his own has brought a new sense of possibility. Although he still values collaboration, JHart no longer sees success as following one established path. Instead, he wants to continue opening up new opportunities, embracing the adventurousness he remembers from childhood.
“I just want to try things, and be an artist, and make shit,” he says.
With ‘The Full Fantasy’, is beginning to do exactly that. More simply than stepping into the spotlight, he’s learning to feel comfortable being seen – contradictions, vulnerabilities and all.
‘The Full Fantasy’ is out now.