BITTER SWEET LOVE
by JAMES ARTHUR

James Arthur counts his fifth album Bitter Sweet Love as something of an experimental passion project. Following on from 2021's eclectic It'll All Make Sense In The End (which blurred the lines between electronic music and rock), Arthur thought it the right time to fully commit to recording a true rock record. 

Released 26 January 2024 through Columbia Records, Bitter Sweet Love sees James hooking up with producer Steve Solomon - who has also worked with rock acts like Pierce The Veil as well as more pop-leaning acts such as Dermot Kennedy. The album is clearly indebted to the works of Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and The White Stripes. 

In its opening week, James Arthur's Bitter Sweet Love found itself in a three-way race to Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, going head to head with new albums from The Smile and The Reytons. Bitter Sweet Love landed at Number 1 on 2 February 2024, giving James Arthur his second UK Number 1 album following 2016's Back From The Edge, and his fifth consecutive Top 5.

On entering at Number 1 with Bitter Sweet Love, James told Official Charts: “I’m really emotional about this one, I’ve been locked in a cubicle crying for the last hour! Bitter Sweet Love is the Official Number 1 album in the UK this week, the best-selling record of the week, which means so much to me.

“It’s been eight years since I last had a Number 1 album, and I’ve been in the game over 10 years. I feel like this is symbolic of all the highs and lows; everything we’ve been through.

“There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’. My management, my label, my friends and family, but most importantly my fans. You made this happen for me. I can’t thank you enough for constantly campaigning and supporting; showing up for me. My heart is full, thank you very much!”