Hayden James returns with We Could Be Love, an album that continues to bridge his signature blend of classic house, indie dance, and pop. While staying true to his strengths as both a DJ and producer, James doesn’t stray far from familiar territory. The album features collaborations that reflect his global influences, yet at times it plays it safe, relying on a well-established formula.
Several tracks, such as ‘We Could Be Love’, ‘Patience’ with Karen Harding, and ‘Make It’ featuring Kormak, stand out as highlights. Each of these showcases his ability to craft smooth, catchy tunes that effortlessly move from radio to the dancefloor. However, while the production is sleek and the vocals are strong, the album doesn’t always push James’ sound into new or daring directions.
We Could Be Love captures his time spent on the US festival circuit and in UK songwriting sessions, blending influences from both scenes. Songs like “Patience” and “Deep Diving” nod to past hits like “Just Friends” and “Just A Lover,” adding a sense of continuity to his body of work. However, this familiarity may be both the album’s strength and limitation—while it’s a solid collection of tracks, those hoping for a more experimental direction might not find the evolution they were anticipating.
James will kick off a North American tour this fall, stopping in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and is celebrating the album’s release with a special party in Los Angeles today. Overall, We Could Be Love is an enjoyable listen that plays to James’ strengths, offering a polished mix of upbeat, danceable songs, though it stays well within the realm of what fans have come to expect from him.
