Aidan Bissett's thirst for human connection — and the emotional havoc it's wrought upon his life — informs every track on his debut album, shut up and love me. The 23-year-old transforms his kamikaze search for meaning into an electrifying blend of alternative pop and indie-rock that doubles as an act of therapy. By examining his patterns and the heavy toll of seeking validation, he crafts a hook-filled collection of big songs that cut deep.
The overarching theme of shut up and love me comes into sharp focus on the lead single, "are we in love yet?," an avalanche of synths and crunchy guitar licks that distills the major highs and crushing lows of giving yourself to someone — only to be left wondering if the feeling is mutual. “That was the first song written for the album,” Bissett recalls. "At the time, I didn’t know what to make of it. I had written something before I was ready to fully understand it."
Over time, the song's meaning evolved. “I kept giving myself to people and not feeling like I was getting that back," Bissett says. "It was draining, like I was losing a piece of myself every time.” Yet, for all its introspection and vulnerability, "are we in love yet" also has a playful side that matches its euphoric production. "It’s taken on so many different forms," he says. "Now, I hear it as something mischievous, sexy, and open to interpretation."
That emotional complexity runs through shut up and love me — and that includes the title. "I wanted something that could be said with different emotions: angry, tired, desperate, loving," Bissett says. "It’s essentially a plea." Over the course of 13 songs, he documents that quest for connection with unrelenting honesty.” "For years, I put myself in harm’s way, searching for something — and I wasn’t even aware of it until halfway through making this record."
It was a genuinely life-changing realization. "Writing these songs helped me figure out what the hell was going on," Bissett says. "Without it, I’d still be making the same mistakes.” His knack for turning personal turmoil into cathartic tunes has been a defining trait since the beginning. Raised in Tampa, Florida, Bissett first picked up the electric guitar as a child and started writing songs as a teenager, crafting guitar-driven pop that felt both intimate and arena-sized.
The rising singer-songwriter found an audience fast — his songs caught fire on TikTok, leading to a deal with Capitol Records and the release of his debut EP, I’m Alright If You’re OK, in 2022. That project garnered more than 86 million global streams and the follow-up, Supernova, built on that momentum, showcasing his ability to blend alternative, indie, and pop in dynamic ways, inspiring a deluxe extended version in 2024. Bissett has now amassed more than 1.6 billion TikTok views on his music, and over 400 million global streams - setting the stage for his biggest leap yet in the era to come.
Shut up and love me amplifies everything Bissett has been working toward: bigger hooks, grittier guitars, and rawer emotions. "I’ve always been inspired by bands," he says. “I wanted this album to sound like a band in a room playing live." That meant embracing imperfections and leaving little mistakes in the final mix. Bissett credits producer Andrew Wells (Chappell Roan, Fall Out Boy, OneRepublic) for helping to bring his vision to life. "We just get each other," he says. "He knows exactly how to take an idea and push it to its fullest potential."
That sense of urgency and spontaneity carries into "Ricochet," the album's upcoming second single. The raucous toe-tapper went through multiple evolutions, beginning as a glossy pop song before Bissett and Wells pulled it into murkier, alternative territory. "Andrew had the idea to add these jagged, almost Raconteurs-style guitar stabs, and suddenly, it clicked." Lyrically, it’s a natural continuation of "are we in love yet?" — but with a twist, Bissett explains. "The first song questions why I keep getting hurt, while 'Ricochet' is me realizing I’m the one letting it happen."
With shut up and love me, Bissett comes into his own, displaying a rare ability to fuse vulnerability with stadium-sized musicality and raw emotion with catchy hooks. “I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I think that really comes across in this record,” he says. "I want people to feel something when they listen." It's an auspicious calling card for an artist who isn’t afraid to dream big. "I want to be playing arenas," he says. "I want to be one of the biggest." With shut up and love me, the path to that goal has never been clearer.
