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Rising star Thomas Headon continues to prove himself as an undeniable indie-pop force with the release of his latest single, "i loved a boy." The heartfelt track is a shining illustration of Headon's innate talent for songwriting, as he paints a story of love, one-sided relationships, and heartbreak that cuts deep and beckons us to keep listening.

The short and bittersweet song opens with a solitary buzz, with Headon's sweet vocals setting the scene. Lilting guitar riffs and thumping kick drums join the mix as he explains that the protagonist's lover hates that they gave their all into their relationship, leaving the main character wondering what they did wrong and accepting "it's better anyway." In the chorus, as an enrapturing collection of sparkling guitar riffs, soft percussion, and warm vocals, he asks, "But why can't you give me the time, give me the time," before ultimately realizing the relationship is over and time is the one thing they can't get back.

"'i loved a boy' is the first song I've put out that isn't from my perspective," shared Headon. "Late last year I caught up with a friend who was going through a breakup, and I found myself really struggling to give her any advice on how to deal with it. Then going into the studio with my friend Taka Perry, it just all seemed to come right out and we wrote it really quickly. I played it live on my October and November shows and now felt like the perfect time to put it out."

The accompanying music video, directed by Jessica Belgrave, is a simple yet engaging one-shot visualizer that follows a woman while she walks alone on a park path. Throughout the long take, she sings the touching song to herself and to the camera, effortlessly conveying the song's pain and regret with her gaze.

"i loved a boy" is the artist's first single release since his EP Victoria, which saw him channel memories of a few months living in London into five inimitable tracks that evoke the sense of having nothing but the whole world ahead of you. Since its release, Headon has earned over 90M streams worldwide. Having spent the past two years performing a storm of live shows around the world to a frenzy of screaming fans at festivals and sold-out tours across the US, Australia, and the UK, Headon has spent the last few months deep in the studio carving out his next body of work.

Watch the "i loved a boy" visualizer below: