Hope Handwritten is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Hope Tala, released on 28 February 2025 through PMR.
Release On 5 April 2024, Hope Tala released the single "I Can't Even Cry". She released her second single of the year, "Bad Love God", on 28 June 2024. She released the single "Thank Goodness" on 16 August 2024. On 25 September 2024, she released "Shiver" as a single. Tala formally announced the album and its release date, alongside its fifth single, "Jumping the Gun", on 17 October 2024. The album's sixth single, "Survival", was released on 25 November 2024. She released "Phoenix" as a single on 24 January 2025. The album's final single, "Magic or Medicine" was released on 25 February 2025.
Critical reception
Luke Winstanley of Clash praised the album as a "fascinating blend of joyous R&B hooks [...], sparkling dream pop guitars [...] and luxurious balladry." Hollie Geraghty's review for NME concludes that album is "for going through the growing pains of your twenties and accepting the unknown of it all, but never refusing to feel it." Katie Hawthorne of The Guardian wrote that "Tala ruminates on heartbreak, self-confidence, faith, family and friendship" on the album "over a honeyed mix of bossa nova, R&B and pop, and in her gorgeous, breathy voice". Writing for DIY, Ife Lawrence praised the album's lyrics, describing it "full of heart and introspective, candid lyricism."
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal.
Musicians
Hope Tala – vocals (all tracks), guitar (track 13) Brandon Garcia – guitar, piano (1, 9); arrangement, drum programming, synthesizer (1) David Baca – drum programming, vocals (1); bass, guitar (9) Isaac Mallach – cello (1, 9) Sarah Hennessy – violin (1) Jonah Christian – drum programming, guitar (3, 4); bass, drums (3); keyboards, synthesizer (4) Tommy King – keyboards, organ, piano (3) Grades – drum programming, keyboards (4) Greg Kurstin – bass, guitar, Rhodes (5, 10); strings, Wurlitzer (5); drums, percussion, synthesizer (10) Jacob Olofsson – bass, drum programming, drums, synthesizer (8) Ari PenSmith – synthesizer, vocals (8) Nolan Lambroza – Mellotron, Wurlitzer (9) Anoop D'Souza – bass, guitar, piano (11, 13, 16); arrangement, drum programming, Rhodes (11); drums (13, 16); barrel organ, percussion, vocals (13); organ (16) Rob Arágon – guitar (11) Laine Johnston – violin (11) Ali Ramsey – vocals (13) Anaïs Cardot – vocals (13) Lophiile – drum programming, drums, keyboards, synthesizer (14) Youngteam – drum programming, guitar, synthesizer (14) Shaan Ramaprasad – viola, violin (16) Sie Romero – vocals (16)
Technical Jaycen Joshua – mixing, mastering Mike Seaberg – mixing, engineering Greg Kurstin – mixing (10); engineering, recording (5, 10) Emily Lazar – mastering (10) Jonah Christian – engineering (3), recording (3, 4) Jacob Olofsson – engineering (8) David Baca – engineering, editing (9); recording (1) Nolan Lambroza – engineering (9) Anoop D'Souza – engineering, recording (11, 13) Tyler Acord – engineering (14, 16), recording (16) Julian Burg – recording (5, 10) Matt Tuggle – recording (5, 10) Brandon Garcia – recording (1) Chris Bhikoo – engineering assistance Jacob Richards – engineering assistance
References
Further reading 10 Questions With Hope Tala As She Releases Her New LP 'Hope Handwritten' (10 Magazine, 2025) "I Wanted to Make Something Undeniable": Hope Tala on the Raw Emotions & Intimate Ink Stains of 'Hope Handwritten' (Atwood Magazine, 2025) "It Can Be Quite Dehumanising" Hope Tala Interviewed (Clash, 2025) Hope Tala takes centre stage: "I've always been a really ambitious person, to a fault" (Dork, 2025) Hope Tala writes her own story (The Line of Best Fit, 2025)