The most seducing heartbreak sound: Warhaus announces ‘Ha Ha Heartbreak’ is coming out November, 11 and shares new single ‘Desire’

Warhaus, the moniker of  Belgium’s foremost alt-crooner, Maarten Devoldere, announces his new album, Ha Ha Heartbreak,  due 11th November via Play It Again Sam. 

It has been half a decade since Warhaus, the brainchild of  Maarten Devoldere (Balthazar), suddenly conquered our musical hearts with the triumphant double victory of We F*cked a Flame into Being  (2016) and Warhaus  (2017). And no, not because he spent his time relentlessly writing and refining new material in Ghent, on the contrary. The songs of the brand-new album  Ha Ha Heartbreak  came gushing out if him in a mere three weeks in the sultry city of Palermo. All Devoldere needed was the solitude of a hotel room, a guitar, a microphone, and a heart that had recently been broken in thousands of pieces. The sorrow was hard to handle, so, of course, Sicily was an escape. But as it goes, those who try to outrun life quickly run into themselves.

A listener won’t notice this immediately. The smoky opening track and first single “Open Window” drifts on a groove that invites you to swing your hips and snap your fingers. Sure, she’s gone, but ‘Girl, it’s in the future we belong,’ Devoldere still sings a bit too confidently. You believe him, not least because the song results in a subtly euphoric outro that is reminiscent of a French seventies film: a glorious, unabashed romantic theme, carried out by a dozen steamy male voices, soars off on the wings of a sweeping string arrangement and reaches its climax with virtuosic piano notes.

This treacherous contrast between form and content persists throughout the entire album: Ha Ha Heartbreak – even the title is catchy – wraps Devoldere’s sorrow into hooks, instant singalong choruses and irresistible melodies.

Watch the video for ‘Desire’: 

The sound, however, remains wonderfully light. It swings and glows with tantalizing strings, sensual backing vocals, horns, playful piano parts, anything to lighten the load. It allows Ha Ha Heartbreak to be a moving emotional exploration as well as a vessel of great musical richness. 

Along with the announcement, Warhaus shares new single ‘Desire’, in which he addresses just about every god he can imagine, but ‘No matter what I turn to / it’s failing me’.

Devoldere says of ‘Desire’: “Trying to love without attachment? Trying to stop the hedonic treadmill from spinning? Trying to reincarnate as Celine Dion’s voice? Follow me on Instagram for misinformation. This song’s dedicated to all those false idols out there.  Love, Warhaus” 

Listen to ‘Desire’ HERE

Warhaus has just sold-out the London show of his UK/EU tour this autumn and more dates will be announced very soon: 
 

24th September – Reeperbahn Festival – Hamburg, Germany 
15th November – De Helling – Utrecht, Netherlands (SOLD OUT) 
17th November – The Lexington – London, United Kingdom (SOLD OUT) 
18th November – Point Ephemere – Paris, France (SOLD OUT) 
27th November – Handelsbeurs – Gent, Belgium (SOLD OUT) 

Ha Ha Heartbreak will be released on heavyweight 12″ vinyl, CD and digital and you can pre-order the album  here.

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