Ehson Hashemian ‘Believe’ Album Review

Like a photographer suddenly switching from stark black-and-white portraits to vibrant colour landscapes, some artistic departures feel both jarring and inevitable. Ehson Hashemian’s latest offering, Believe, represents precisely this kind of creative pivot—a deliberate step away from the electronic-tinged introspection of his previous work towards something altogether more luminous and immediate. In an era where authenticity often masquerades as melancholy, Hashemian’s unapologetic embrace of pop optimism feels almost subversive.

Ehson Hashemian’s musical journey reads like a masterclass in artistic evolution and commercial savvy. The Southern Californian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist first gained prominence as a keyboardist and co-writer for The Jakes—later to become Young the Giant—where his contribution to the double-platinum certified ‘Cough Syrup’ demonstrated his knack for crafting enduring melodic hooks. The track’s impressive commercial trajectory, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and finding its way onto television programmes including Glee and The Voice, as well as the Fright Night film remake, established Hashemian’s credentials within the industry’s upper echelons.

His 2009 departure from the band to pursue solo work under the moniker Backwards Forwards yielded the introspective You Are Here EP (2012) and the full-length Still Life (2014), both showcasing a more experimental and contemplative approach to songcraft. However, his transition to releasing music under his own name has marked a particularly prolific period, with Animation (2023), Face Shine (2024), and Bliss (January 2025) preceding this latest effort. Believe, his fourth solo album, arrives as both a culmination of this creative burst and a notable stylistic departure.

Believe operates within an entirely different sonic palette than Hashemian’s earlier electronic-influenced work, instead embracing a bright, airy aesthetic built around intricate guitar work and soaring vocal performances. The album’s title track encapsulates this approach perfectly, with Hashemian declaring “Got to believe in the morning light”—a lyrical sentiment that serves as both thematic anchor and sonic blueprint for the record’s unrelenting optimism.

The production throughout maintains a deliberately uncluttered approach, allowing Hashemian’s impressive vocal range to take centre stage. His octave-spanning delivery guides each track’s melodic arc with an almost uninhibited reach skyward, particularly effective on tracks like ‘Do’, where the philosophy of liberation becomes manifest through both lyrical content and vocal performance. The track’s central refrain—”You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, when you’re getting down / You’ve got to do where you’ve got to go, when it comes around”—exemplifies the album’s commitment to feel-good messaging delivered through uncompromising pop structures.

Musically, Hashemian’s guitar work occasionally echoes the intricate plucking patterns of experimental rock acts like Battles, particularly evident on ‘Live and Learn’. However, these moments of technical complexity never overshadow the album’s decidedly mainstream pop sensibilities. Instead, they serve as textural flourishes that add depth without compromising accessibility.

‘Thinking About It’ perhaps best demonstrates the album’s approach to “unconditional pop joy,” building its appeal around straightforward hooks and Hashemian’s compelling vocal delivery. Lines like “When the world lights and everybody hears the sound” capture the album’s essential optimism whilst remaining refreshingly free from cynicism or ironic distance.

Believe succeeds precisely because it refuses to apologise for its pop ambitions. In an artistic landscape often suspicious of unguarded emotional expression, Hashemian’s commitment to crafting genuinely uplifting songs feels both brave and necessary. The album marks a clear evolution from his earlier electronic-influenced work, favouring organic instrumentation and direct emotional communication over atmospheric complexity.

Whilst the record may seem an unusual choice for Discipline Mag’s typically more experimental remit, its inclusion serves as a valuable reminder that artistic merit isn’t exclusively the domain of the avant-garde. Hashemian’s willingness to step outside his established comfort zone—crafting some of his most vulnerable tracks to date—mirrors our own occasional need to venture beyond familiar territories. Believe stands as evidence that sometimes the most radical artistic statement is the simple decision to embrace joy without reservation.

Keep up-to-date with Ehson Hashemian’s continuing musical journey on Instagram and keep abreast of his work on Discogs.