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Photo by Lexi Sanchez

In short, Slow Joy's debut full-length album, A Joy So Slow At Times I Don't Think It's Coming, is precisely the kind of music the scene needs right now. The record establishes the Dallas-based musician, Esteban Flores, as a voice in the modern alternative scene, blending elements of grunge, emo, and shoegaze into an emotionally rich experience.

With this debut, Flores shows us exactly who he is, channeling every phase of his emotional journey into a collection of songs that feel massive yet intimately handcrafted. For all the pain and effort it's taken the singer-songwriter to reach this point, his presence and artistry feel like a gift in an era threatened by carelessly produced and soulless music. Tracks like “Te Amo” and “Do I Wear You Out” emphasize the emotional weight that runs throughout the album, while blistering lead single, "Gruesome," fuses melodic hooks with post-punk guitar textures. His honesty, authenticity, and undeniable warmth shine through every crevice of this record, leaving us feeling deeply connected and empathetic towards his journey.

Ones To Watch had the opportunity to talk with Flores ahead of his upcoming nationwide tour and go more in-depth about the album, art coming out of tragedy, and what it means to bare your soul for the masses.

OnesToWatch: First of all, I want to say congratulations on your debut album! I've been a big fan since 2022/2023. How do you feel now that this project is out in the world? Were you nervous at all?

Slow Joy: Thank you! That's so cool. It still trips me out that people like my music haha. Having the album out is a wild feeling. I never thought I'd get to make a debut album. At first, it was overwhelming to think about putting together such a big collection of songs, but I learned a lot during the process, which already makes me want to make another one.

Could you tell me more about your reasoning behind the title of the album? What does it mean to you, and how does that meaning show itself throughout the collection?

My wife and I were going through a pretty tough season in life. Like most people these days, we were stressed out about all the "once in a lifetime" events the world keeps going through, and I felt like my "slow joy" was never going to come. I liked how raw the title felt. I'm a huge Modest Mouse fan, so naturally I had to give my first album a long title like theirs.

Where did you find inspiration, music or otherwise, when creating the album?

Sonically, I was listening to a ton of classic albums like Nevermind, What's the Story Morning Glory, and Surfer Rosa. I was trying to channel my heroes in the writing. Lyrically, I spent a lot of time journaling, trying to collect my thoughts, and those pages ended up becoming the majority of the songs.

I know that this project was created after you experienced some personal loss. Did writing this album help you reckon with your own conflicts with identity and grief?

I think that's a never-ending process. Making the music was cathartic and definitely a step in the right direction. But there are still days where I feel less adjusted than before I even started writing. That's just how life goes, I guess.

Your music is so honest and raw, yet it still holds on to a warmth that allows people to resonate with what you're trying to say. Do you feel like it's emotionally or mentally taxing to write and create music, where you need time to come back to center, or is it second nature now to go that deep and vulnerable?

Honestly, I don't think I know any other way. It has to feel honest and raw, otherwise it feels more like a product than a piece of art to me. It usually does take me a bit to come back to center after writing, but that's mostly because I spend so much time focusing on one thing that it's hard to just hang it up for the day.

What would you say if you had to narrow down what this album is about to one sentence?

A joy so slow at times I don't think it's coming ;)

Did the process of making this album challenge you in different ways from your previous releases?

Absolutely. It was overwhelming at first. I wanted to make a big classic album and measured it up against my favorite bands' biggest records. I learned pretty quickly that if you do that, nothing will ever feel good enough. You have to lean into the fact that your album is your own, and every iteration of the process is a step toward what it's meant to be. I know that sounds a little spacey and maybe pretentious haha, but I really think all projects already exist. You're not making them, you're finding them.

Is there anything you are interested in experimenting with or exploring in future releases?

So much. I learned a lot on this first album. I want to explore having more of my friends in the studio, adding to the energy of the room. Up until now I've played everything besides drums, which can get a little bland. Next time, I want to bring some homies in when the songs are close and see how we can make them even more exciting.

You worked with Mike Sapone, who I adore, for this project. Can you tell me what it was like working with him and discuss what makes for a positive artist-producer relationship when making such a dynamic record?

Mike is one of the best guys around, both as a human and a producer. He creates an incredibly safe and inviting atmosphere, which is so important in the studio. You're out of your element and it can really get in your head. When you're tracking any instrument or singing, you're aiming for perfection, which means, at least for me, you're going to mess up a lot. Having someone there who believes in you and works hard to bring out your best feels like a life hack. Man, I love Mike.

As I really loved tracks like "Gruesome," "Wound," and "Hi Mijo / Te Amo." (I, too, am a first-gen Latina who sometimes struggles with Spanish.) What is your favorite track on the album to listen to right now, and which one do you like to play live the most right now?

I'm in that phase where I've listened to the album too much to enjoy it haha. But "Wound" will always have a special place in my heart. I wrote it with one of my best friends, and it just feels so good live. I'm a sucker for anthems.

You're about to embark on a tour throughout the states starting this fall. I know being on the road for months on end can be a daunting experience. How do you ground yourself when spending so much time away from loved ones?

Long walks, preferably near trees. You spend so much time on highways, in gas stations, hotels, and downtown areas. A good walk in a park does wonders for your mental health. Other than that, it's calling the people I love whenever I can and exercising when I can. You really have to protect your self-care routines on the road.

This album comes at a time when the world is in a constant state of flux and ends with the stunning yet heartbreaking "4u4me4everyone," which, to me, serves almost like a letter saying, "the world is on fire, but at least we're together." Do you have any advice for people out there who are doing their best to fight the increasing sense of despair?

I really wish I did. For me, the only thing that's been working lately is taking time away from everything and spending it doing things I enjoy. The "took a walk in the sun to help the depression" line is something I do often. I really wish we had empathetic humans running the planet.