We’ve all felt the feeling. Infatuation with someone that strikes so fierce that your stomach twists and turns, your muscles ache, and your heart is set ablaze. So much so that you should probably call out of work and stay home.
Such is the premise on Phil Pickens‘ new single, “Lovesick.”
Released Friday August 28th, 2026, “Lovesick” hits a bit different from the New York City songwriter’s previous single, July’s “Perfect Work of Art.” Both singles are part of Pickens two-part album rollout, Caution to the Wind, slated for a 2027 release.
“Lovesick” is moody and vulnerable, touching on the aspects of what it’s like to fall in love with someone, and hide away from that feeling. More than that, it describes the innate feeling to take care and nurture the one you love. Pickens uses his lyrics to describe the “feverish” symptoms, and the only thing he can do to avoid this sickness of love is by staying home. His delicate yet yearning tone is delivered well within his instrumentals, precise guitar, and layered vocal harmonies.
Raised in Atlanta and now residing in Manhattan, the indie folk-rock songwriter is more than just warm vocals and keen instrumentation — he is an articulate storyteller, with lyrics that paint a vivid picture in every song.
He was selected by WFUV and NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest as one of New York City’s Top 3 Bands, and has performed at the Gibson Guitars New York showroom (formerly The Hit Factory studios). He is also a regular presence on stages including The Knitting Factory, Littlefield, Bowery Place, and Union Hall among other notable NYC clubs.
Reuniting with Grammy Award-winning producer James Frazee, Pickens approached Caution to the Wind with patience, building it from the ground up. Tracked live with a focus on feel over polish, the album explores memory, relationships, longing, resilience, and the quiet ways we keep moving forward.
“I wrote all of these songs at different times in my life, so releasing them one at a time felt closer to how they originally arrived to me,” Pickens states. “Rather than putting everything out at once, I wanted to let each song have its own moment and unfold throughout the year. That felt more intentional and meaningful to me.”
Pickens’ songs are more like poetry, using his lyrics to capture and express the strongest of emotions, and we’re looking forward to his upcoming single, “Granddad’s Wine,” slated for release in October.
