Nine years after his debut solo album, Nathan Sykes is ready to reintroduce himself – this time unapologetically and without hesitation. ‘Ultraviolet’his long-awaited second studio album, out TODAY, marks a return not only to music but to himself.
“With such a long period between solo albums, and so much personal growth during that time, my sound has naturally matured, with a quiet confidence throughout that can even be felt within the vocals and production of each track,” says Sykes, reflecting on the nearly decade between records. His debut in 2016, “Unfinished Business”was polished, balanced and promising – the sound of a former boy band star finding his footing. But ‘Ultraviolet’ is something else entirely: a visceral, confessional record that feels like the diary of a man who has learned to love his scars.
Work on the album began a few years ago, before life took some unexpected turns. The wanted Reunion, Tom Parker’s heartbreaking illness and death, and the whiplash of fame and grief caused Sykes to reassess everything – including his voice. “The record is my most personal and authentic work to date,” he says. “It explores parts of my life that I previously didn’t know how to tap into, from moments where I’m on the outside looking in, to diving into what it’s like to truly love and feel love for the first time.”
The result is ‘Ultraviolet’ — a twelve-track journey through heartache, hope and healing. From the lush, cinematic premiere “UV” to slow-burning R&B ‘Dive’pulsates the record with a self-confidence that feels deserved. “Butterflies” shimmers with the spark of early 2000s pop, while ‘Skin’ digs deep into vulnerability and self-acceptance. Written by Sykes, each song showcases an artist who has taken full creative control.
Sonically, the record mixes glossy pop with soulful undertones — think Sam Smith’s emotional sincerity meets the elegant production of George Ezra and Tom Grennan. Sykes teamed up with the producer To you Trippas well as writers David Sneddon (Lana Del Rey, Lewis Capaldi), Theo Hutchcraft (Calvin Harris, Moonlight)and Anu Pillai (Lewis Capaldi, Declan J Donovan)to create a sound that is modern yet unmistakably his own. Mixed by Steve Fitzmaurice (Sam Smith)the album shines with warmth, texture and a distinctly British polish.
Standouts that “Pieces of Me” and “Guess I Was Right” delivering radio-ready hooks wrapped in emotional honesty. Meanwhile closer “Time to Say Goodbye” — a delicate piano ballad — feels like Sykes’ most vulnerable moment yet.
There’s a maturity in Sykes’ tone now – a quiet assurance that replaces the restless energy of his twenties. Where “Unfinished Business” was a promise, ‘Ultraviolet’ is fulfillment. It’s not about proving yourself anymore; it’s about being yourself.
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