Matt Hansen Learns To Love And Let Go On Debut Album ‘Orchid’

Breaking up is hard to do — just ask Matt Hansen, who tracks the epic highs and lows of love with his debut album Orchid

Hansen, an independent singer-songwriter who built a major following on TikTok, has embraced a big, bold sound, anchoring heartfelt lyrics with production that sweeps the listener into the stories he tells. Blending country elements with a more rock-edged sound, Hansen puts his own spin on the stomp-clap genre, updating it for a 2026 audience. 

Orchid is an in-depth look at a relationship, from beginning to end, and back to the beginning again. On opening track “love is like a garden,” Hansen sings hopefully, “You plant the seeds // in hopes that something starts.”

However, like all wishes, it never comes true in the way you might have wanted. Hansen explores the end of his relationship, veering from anger (“I guess we had different versions of forever”), to sadness (“When did I become your something to remember?”) to, finally, acceptance (“I can’t love you and love me at the same time”). 

With every ending comes a new beginning, and Orchid tracks Hansen’s entrance into a new relationship. On “FOUND,” he shares, “Lately, I’ve been lost in every crowd // But with you, I’m a little bit found,” praising his new partner for staying with him “through the darkest days and longest nights.”

Hansen also takes some time for inner reflection, counseling himself to appreciate moments while he’s living them (“BEFORE WE KNOW IT”) and to accept that heartbreak can sometimes be the best thing to happen to you. 

“Sometimes what breaks your heart will clear your vision,” he sings on “VISION,” before stating, “You’ve made to make it out again.”

On Orchid, Hansen opens himself up completely, tracking the course of a relationship and sharing his own vulnerabilities as he tries to move on — but ultimately, not to forget the lessons he’s learned about love on the way. 

Listen to Orchid below: 

Related Articles

Blond in Car Unpacks The Pleasure And Pain Of Loving Someone Who Knows ‘How To Be A Mystery’

Blond in Car Unpacks The Pleasure And Pain Of Loving Someone Who Knows ‘How To Be A Mystery’

July 8, 2026 Take a trip into Blond in Car’s trippy, dreampop world with “How To Be a Mystery,” a song about the dangers of falling for the girl everybody wants.
Author: India McCarty
Pop
Ella Jane Crafts A Mosaic of Self-Discovery in “Sparkwheel” EP [Q&A]

Ella Jane Crafts A Mosaic of Self-Discovery in “Sparkwheel” EP [Q&A]

July 3, 2026 We chatted about Ella’s path to producing her own music, the timeline that allowed these songs to find a home with one another, and of course, her OnesToWatch.
Author: Giselle Libby
Pop
EP
In Conversation: Wallice and Dolly Ave [Q&A]

In Conversation: Wallice and Dolly Ave [Q&A]

June 29, 2026 For OTW's 11th anniversary and AAPI month, friends and musicians Wallice and Dolly Ave interview each other about their unexpected paths to music, the realities of touring, and their first concerts.
Author: Chancey Stefanos
Pop