Today’s Song: JC Stewart Energetically Returns with “I Need You to Hate Me”

JC Stewart © 2020
JC Stewart © 2020
Northern Irish singer/songwriter JC Stewart gives listeners another reason to love him with his latest cut “I Need You To Hate Me.”
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Stream: “I Need You to Hate Me” – JC Stewart

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When we last spoke to JC Stewart earlier this year, the world was acutely different. Stewart was alight with the excitement of going on his first headline tour and taking his music across the globe. Even though those plans are abruptly halted, JC Stewart is still keen to share his music with the world. If JC Stewart keeps releasing music as compelling as “I Need You To Hate Me,” Stewart might need to upgrade some venues when he finally embarks his debut headline tour.

I Need You To Hate Me - JC Stewart
I Need You To Hate Me – JC Stewart
You say happiness exists
But you’re not sure where it goes
And you don’t know how you feel
But you’re getting real close
You’re keeping me in the dark
But it won’t be long, she says
She says I won’t like it
But I just gotta hold on, she says
I’m done with all this silence
Russian roulette romances
One slip oh I could light it
Just tell me this is lifeless

With his latest single, JC Stewart brings an unmistakable sense of forcefulness that is not found in some of his earlier work. That boldness brings an unbridled vitality into the fray, which is sure to capture first-time listeners attention. Then from there, further listens begin to unravel the fierce ferociousness that incorporated into every single second of the song.

It perhaps isn’t surprising that “I Need You To Hate Me” is inspired by the same breakup that gave birth to his single “Have You Had Enough Wine?”. While the latter track delves into the difficulties that surround the difficulties of a breakup conversation, “I Need You to Hate Me” sees Stewart almost begging that some of form of emotions comes to replace the emotional numbness of a long-overdue break-up.

I need you to hate me
Baby in the worst way oh
I need you to hate me
Say it to my face I’ll go, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Say somethin’
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Say somethin’

Speaking about the inspiration behind the track, Stewart shares, “There was a moment where we were just going through the motions and I was like, ‘Instead of doing this, I’d rather that you hated me because there’d be something more to cling on to.’ The vibe was that we were really drifting apart.”

JC Stewart © 2020
JC Stewart © 2020



Now I’m talkin’ to myself
‘Cause I miss your ringtone
You say you’re still around
But I’m done and I need to know
You’re keeping me in the dark
But it won’t be long, she says
She says I won’t like it
But I just gotta hold on, she says
I’m done with all this silence
Russian roulette romances
One slip oh I could light it
Just tell me this is lifeless

To convey the ominous nature of the song, Stewart makes use of an entrancing melody, which proves to be immediately enrapturing. The song erupts during the emotionally resonant chorus, which feels perfectly primed for mass sing-alongs. Despite the anthemic nature of the tracks, there’s no question that the emotive nature of Stewart’s vocal delivery and his introspective lyricism makes “I Need You To Hate Me” feel like a distinctly personal track.

Although “I Need You To Hate Me” clocks in at a streaming friendly time of 2:37, it’s still crammed with an astonishing amount of palpable emotion. Having already met with a warm reception, its success further builds the dizzying excitement that surrounds the 23-year-old Northern Irish singer-songwriter. It’s now not a case of if JC Stewart will breakthrough into the mainstream but when.

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Stream: “I Need You to Hate Me” – JC Stewart



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I Need You To Hate Me - JC Stewart

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