North Hertfordshire’s soulful troubadour DrewJam returns with a heartfelt and sonically rich single titled Friends with a Fool, released on March 21, 2025. Known for his evocative blend of pop-rock storytelling and guitar-driven arrangements, DrewJam’s latest offering captures a universal emotional struggle—watching someone you care about go down a path you believe isn’t right, and feeling powerless to stop them.
Crafted with care and passion, Friends with a Fool stands as a testament to DrewJam’s growth as a songwriter and producer. The track is mostly self-produced, showcasing his keen ear for arrangement and emotion. With a compelling mix of acoustic and electric guitar textures, ambient organs, melodic piano touches, and his signature emotive vocal delivery, the song offers both intimacy and grandeur. It’s the kind of track that hits just as hard whether you’re driving alone at night or reflecting quietly with headphones on.
DrewJam, who hails from just outside Manchester and is now a familiar figure in the North Hertfordshire music scene, has steadily built a reputation for his authentic songwriting and engaging live performances. From his early days performing in a duo in North London to his solo evolution, DrewJam has consistently demonstrated an ability to connect through stories, melodies, and an undeniable passion for his craft.
With Friends with a Fool, he explores a particularly poignant emotional terrain—the ache of watching someone close fall under the spell of a bad influence, whether it be a toxic relationship or misguided passion. It’s a situation many will find painfully familiar: the frustration, the helplessness, and the heartbreak that comes from being unable to break through the fog for someone you love. Yet, instead of bitterness, the song leans into wistful empathy, adding an emotional richness that elevates it beyond simple heartbreak anthems.
Musically, the track is a feast. It begins with gentle acoustic strums, slowly building into a full-bodied pop-rock arrangement. DrewJam’s expressive lead guitar work—clearly influenced by icons like Mark Knopfler and U2’s The Edge—soars without overwhelming, weaving seamlessly into the fabric of the song. Atmospheric keyboards and pianos provide a lush backdrop, while subtle rhythm changes and layered harmonies bring dynamic energy to the track’s progression.
His voice, sincere and stirring, delivers each lyric with intention. There’s a weight to his phrasing, a lived-in authenticity that mirrors the vulnerability in the subject matter. At times, it recalls the contemplative tones of Tom McRae or the soulful richness of George Michael, yet DrewJam’s delivery remains distinctly his own.
The single follows a string of well-received releases from the artist over the past few years, including a live EP and a 2024 track reflecting on the lockdown experience. While those releases leaned into introspection and stripped-down emotion, Friends with a Fool marks a return to more upbeat territory—albeit with the same lyrical depth and sincerity that fans have come to expect.
There’s something timeless about DrewJam’s songwriting. Influences from the golden eras of British pop-rock shine through, yet the themes are strikingly contemporary. He doesn’t chase trends—instead, he crafts songs that resonate because they come from an honest place. Friends with a Fool is no exception; it’s a song with layers—musically rich and emotionally vulnerable, it sits comfortably among the finest work from any of his cited influences.
As DrewJam continues to carve out his place in the UK music scene, Friends with a Fool affirms his role as not just a performer, but a storyteller with a knack for blending melody and meaning. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering his music for the first time, this track is a perfect entry point into the world of an artist who believes in the power of song to speak the truths we sometimes struggle to say out loud.
Stream Friends with a Fool now on all major platforms and keep an eye out for DrewJam’s upcoming live dates and new releases in 2025.
