Hope Handwritten
| Hope Handwritten | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 28 February 2025 |
| Genres | R&B, bossa nova, pop, neo soul |
| Length | 53:24 |
| Label | PMR |
| Producers |
|
| Singles from Hope Handwritten | |
| |
Hope Handwritten is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Hope Tala, released on 28 February 2025 through PMR.
Release
On 5 April 2024, Hope Tala released the single "I Can't Even Cry". She released her second single of the year, "Bad Love God", on 28 June 2024. She released the single "Thank Goodness" on 16 August 2024. On 25 September 2024, she released "Shiver" as a single. Tala formally announced the album and its release date, alongside its fifth single, "Jumping the Gun", on 17 October 2024. The album's sixth single, "Survival", was released on 25 November 2024. She released "Phoenix" as a single on 24 January 2025. The album's final single, "Magic or Medicine" was released on 25 February 2025.
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 72/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 8/10 |
| DIY |    |
| Dork | 5/5 |
| The Guardian | |
| NME | |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Hope Handwritten received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.
Luke Winstanley of Clash praised the album as a "fascinating blend of joyous R&B hooks [...], sparkling dream pop guitars [...] and luxurious balladry." Hollie Geraghty's review for NME concludes that album is "for going through the growing pains of your twenties and accepting the unknown of it all, but never refusing to feel it." Katie Hawthorne of The Guardian wrote that "Tala ruminates on heartbreak, self-confidence, faith, family and friendship" on the album "over a honeyed mix of bossa nova, R&B and pop, and in her gorgeous, breathy voice". Writing for DIY, Ife Lawrence praised the album's lyrics, describing it "full of heart and introspective, candid lyricism."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Growing Pains (Prologue)" | Hope Natasha McDonald | Baca & Brandn | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Jumping the Gun" |
|
| 3:11 |
| 3. | "Lights Camera Action" |
|
| 3:23 |
| 4. | "Magic or Medicine" |
|
| 3:03 |
| 5. | "Breaking Isn't What a Heart Is For" |
| Greg Kurstin | 2:52 |
| 6. | "I Can't Even Cry" |
| D'Souza | 3:41 |
| 7. | "Thank Goodness" |
| Stint | 3:20 |
| 8. | "Survival" | H. McDonald | 3:33 | |
| 9. | "Phoenix" | H. McDonald |
| 2:39 |
| 10. | "Fall Too Hard" |
| Kurstin | 3:32 |
| 11. | "Lose My Mind" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 12. | "Bad Love God" | H. McDonald |
| 3:23 |
| 13. | "A Story to Tell/Where I Begin" |
|
| 4:37 |
| 14. | "Miracle" | H. McDonald |
| 2:54 |
| 15. | "Shiver" |
|
| 3:25 |
| 16. | "Heartbeat (The End)" |
| D'Souza | 2:54 |
| Total length: | 53:24 | |||
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
Musicians
- Hope Tala – vocals (all tracks), guitar (track 13)
- Brandon Garcia – guitar, piano (1, 9); arrangement, drum programming, synthesizer (1)
- David Baca – drum programming, vocals (1); bass, guitar (9)
- Isaac Mallach – cello (1, 9)
- Sarah Hennessy – violin (1)
- Jonah Christian – drum programming, guitar (3, 4); bass, drums (3); keyboards, synthesizer (4)
- Tommy King – keyboards, organ, piano (3)
- Grades – drum programming, keyboards (4)
- Greg Kurstin – bass, guitar, Rhodes (5, 10); strings, Wurlitzer (5); drums, percussion, synthesizer (10)
- Jacob Olofsson – bass, drum programming, drums, synthesizer (8)
- Ari PenSmith – synthesizer, vocals (8)
- Nolan Lambroza – Mellotron, Wurlitzer (9)
- Anoop D'Souza – bass, guitar, piano (11, 13, 16); arrangement, drum programming, Rhodes (11); drums (13, 16); barrel organ, percussion, vocals (13); organ (16)
- Rob Arágon – guitar (11)
- Laine Johnston – violin (11)
- Ali Ramsey – vocals (13)
- Anaïs Cardot – vocals (13)
- Lophiile – drum programming, drums, keyboards, synthesizer (14)
- Youngteam – drum programming, guitar, synthesizer (14)
- Shaan Ramaprasad – viola, violin (16)
- Sie Romero – vocals (16)
Technical
- Jaycen Joshua – mixing, mastering
- Mike Seaberg – mixing, engineering
- Greg Kurstin – mixing (10); engineering, recording (5, 10)
- Emily Lazar – mastering (10)
- Jonah Christian – engineering (3), recording (3, 4)
- Jacob Olofsson – engineering (8)
- David Baca – engineering, editing (9); recording (1)
- Nolan Lambroza – engineering (9)
- Anoop D'Souza – engineering, recording (11, 13)
- Tyler Acord – engineering (14, 16), recording (16)
- Julian Burg – recording (5, 10)
- Matt Tuggle – recording (5, 10)
- Brandon Garcia – recording (1)
- Chris Bhikoo – engineering assistance
- Jacob Richards – engineering assistance
References
- 1 2 3 "Hope Tala - Hope Handwritten Full of heart and introspective, candid lyricism". DIY. 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- 1 2 3 4 Hawthorne, Katie (2025-02-28). "Hope Tala: Hope Handwritten review – even-tempered vocal gorgeousness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- 1 2 3 Geraghty, Hollie (2025-02-28). "Hope Tala – 'Hope Handwritten' review: a poetic ode to love and heartbreak in your twenties". NME. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (2024-04-05). "Hope Tala's 'I Can't Even Cry' Is An Enchanting Return | News". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Mosk, Mitch (2024-04-11). "Hope Tala's "I Can't Even Cry" Aches With Love's Pain & Shines With Its Beauty". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Damara Kelly, Tyler (28 June 2024). "Hope Tala shares new single, "Bad Love God"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (2024-06-28). "Hope Tala Aims For Directness On 'Bad Love God' | News". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Taylor, Sam (2024-08-16). "Hope Tala has dropped her new break-up inspired summer anthem 'Thank Goodness'". Dork. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ "Peggy Gou, Joy Orbison & Hope Tala In Wonderlist". Wonderland. 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ "Hope Tala has released new single 'Shiver', exploring falling in love". Dork. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ "Lady Gaga, Stevie Nicks, Rauw Alejandro, And All the Songs You Need to Know". Rolling Stone. 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Carter, Daisy (2024-10-21). "Hope Tala confirms details of debut album 'Hope Handwritten'". DIY. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Damara Kelly, Tyler (17 October 2024). "Hope Tala announces her debut album, Hope Handwritten". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ "Hope Tala explores resilience and privilege with her new single 'Survival'". Dork. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Cockrell, Gemma (2025-03-05). "Hope Tala - 'Survival'". When The Horn Blows. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (2025-01-27). "Hope Tala's 'Phoenix' Is A Song Of Re-Connection". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ "NOTION NOW #234: Little Simz, girl in red & Jim Legxacy". Notion. 2025-02-28. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ↑ D'souza, Shaad (Feb 28, 2025). "Sound Off: 10 Songs You Need to Hear Now". Paper Mag. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- 1 2 "Hope Handwritten by Hope Tala", Metacritic, retrieved 2025-03-05
- 1 2 Winstanley, Luke (2025-03-03). "Hope Tala – Hope Handwritten A heavenly debut..." Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ↑ "Hope Tala - Hope Handwritten - Dork". Dork. 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
- ↑ "Hope Handwritten - Album by Hope Tala". Spotify. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ↑ "Hope Handwritten / Hope Tala / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
Further reading
- 10 Questions With Hope Tala As She Releases Her New LP 'Hope Handwritten' (10 Magazine, 2025)
- "I Wanted to Make Something Undeniable": Hope Tala on the Raw Emotions & Intimate Ink Stains of 'Hope Handwritten' (Atwood Magazine, 2025)
- "It Can Be Quite Dehumanising" Hope Tala Interviewed (Clash, 2025)
- Hope Tala takes centre stage: "I've always been a really ambitious person, to a fault" (Dork, 2025)
- Hope Tala writes her own story (The Line of Best Fit, 2025)