If you see the name “SLOWJOY” appear on a lineup near you, do yourself a favor—buy a ticket. I promise you, he will not disappoint. I’ve seen him four times now, and I will still make sure to see him again every time he stops near me. The energy he brings to the stage is infectious and his own confidence level has skyrocketed. The real, raw feeling he brings with his lyrics translate on stage in ways that make your heart throb. He is taking over, and you should get on board while you still can.

This past weekend, he played to a sold out crowd at the legendary X-Ray Arcade for Burn Bright MKE Fest. According to JJ—the venue’s talent booker/promoter (honestly, I don’t know what this man doesn’t do in the music scene)—some attendees purchased a ticket at the last minute just to see Slow Joy. If that doesn’t confess to his growth in the industry, I don’t know what else would tell you.

This was his second time playing the venue and he took the stage like a pro. Completely immersed in his own music and the crowd’s vibes, he jumped down into the mosh pit for a song. One of my personal favorite parts during his set was the introduction of a tambourine—I love when bands incorporate uncommon instruments, it just adds a whole other layer to the live experience where you’re like ‘wait hold on…’

When he jumped into the pit, the crowd went insane for him—for a new song that hasn’t even been released yet! But according to sources, his social media, we’re being blessed with a new track THIS FRIDAY. Go pre-save it, if you can. (I personally struggle with pre-saving music because my phone never corporates. I’ve tried several times. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.)

Anyways, Slow Joy. Don’t sleep on him.