Peter McPoland Finds Himself Again in the Embrace of 'News at 9'

"Don’t call me home again, I know the dam is gone."

I remember reading a quote about leaving being the absolute hardest thing to do - but once you do it, it's the easiest thing in your life. Whether it be a place, a person, or even an idea, "goodbye" will never not be a bittersweet moment.  Peter McPoland's latest  single "News at 9," a three minute masterpiece capturing the emotions that resurface when you realize - finally - it is time to cut the cord and move forward.

"News at 9" sounds like a memory. Distant sirens, piano chords, and soft static evoke the sensation of sitting in a moving car through a busy city on a rainy day, looking out the window at flashing lights that fade into one another. The world looks a little blurry, but somehow, there is beauty in the chaos of it all. As McPoland sings about love and loss, the track's folk-pop instrumentation intensifies into an orchestra of overwhelmingly powerful sounds.  

I need to dedicate an entirely new paragraph to McPoland and his voice because a single sentence does not do the singer-songwriter justice. McPoland put his everything, and more, into "News at 9" - his vocals, combined with the production, creates a powerful listening experience. He has the unique capability to fully convey his emotions in such a way that the listener can feel exactly what he felt while writing and recording the song. Seriously - by the end of the last verse your heart will be pounding out of your chest - and if it isn't, I would consider seeking medical attention. I am constantly amazed by how much of his authentically, raw self he puts into his music. McPoland does not just sing: he feels, he cares, and he performs.

"I have never cared for a song the way I care for this song. I have never wanted for a song, the way I want for this song. I have never been so truly passionate in every aspect of a song, as I am for this song. If I am myself again, it is because of this song," shares McPoland.    

Alongside the release of "News at 9" is its official music video, directed by Jasper Soloff, we watch McPoland, dressed in a white button up and black tie, wander around a packed up office space. Surrounding him are cardboard boxes labeled with figments of his past - Juliet, Jack, the Woodlands - perhaps as a way to acknowledge the past in order to move from it. Through its deep blue and warm red lighting, the music video visualizes the intense emotions felt through this track. While the scenery and the storyline are seemingly simple, Soloff captures McPoland in such a way that serves "News at 9" the justice it deserves.  

Watch the "News at 9" video below:  

Related Articles

Amira Elfeky Gets Caught Between Love and Self-Preservation on ‘It Was Only A Dream’

Amira Elfeky Gets Caught Between Love and Self-Preservation on ‘It Was Only A Dream’

November 14, 2026 Across 12 tracks, the rising alternative artist moves between shoegaze, metal, alternative rock, and pop, examining the messier sides of love while questioning what remains when those relationships begin to fall apart.
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop
Joshua Jensen Believes “Music Makes the Universe Visible in our Ears” [Q&A]

Joshua Jensen Believes “Music Makes the Universe Visible in our Ears” [Q&A]

November 13, 2026 Originally from Arizona, rising singer-songwriter Joshua Jensen grew up envisioning his life as a Broadway conductor, or a classical piano player. Then, he found songwriting, which he says allowed him to come to terms with “everything I love about art.”
Author: Noah Wade
EP
mazie Finds Religion In Love On New Single ‘Heaven Is Your Lips’

mazie Finds Religion In Love On New Single ‘Heaven Is Your Lips’

November 13, 2026 mazie lays it all out from the very start of the song, declaring, “Heaven is your lips on mine” over some angelic chimes that bring to mind classic Cyndi Lauper — or an After Hours-era The Weeknd.
Author: India McCarty
pop