With This Is Love, Nick Cody & The Heartache offer a beautifully introspective and heartfelt single that invites listeners to ponder one of life’s biggest questions: What is love? Featuring the Calverley Community Choir, this track is more than just a song—it’s an emotional journey, blending rich harmonies, poetic lyricism, and evocative melodies into a compelling sonic experience.
Released on February 14, 2025, through Green Eyed Records, This Is Love serves as the first glimpse into the upcoming album This Is Love & Heartache, set for release on April 11, 2025. The song is also featured on Rock and Reel Magazine’s Un-Herd CD (Jan/Feb issue), highlighting its growing presence in the music scene.
At its core, This Is Love is a reimagining of a song originally written by Towse, a longtime collaborator and member of The Heartache. While the song itself is not new, Nick Cody’s deep admiration for Towse’s work shines through in this version, making it feel both personal and reverent. The lyrics pose a simple yet profound question:
“Oh, what is love? Can it be defined? Is it in our minds?”
These words resonate universally, yet Nick Cody & The Heartache’s interpretation adds a new layer of depth, allowing each listener to find their own meaning within the song.
Nick Cody has long been known for his sharp lyrics and strong melodies, crafting music that is both thought-provoking and accessible. His work has received praise from established artists such as Jon Gomm and Chris Catalyst (The Sisters of Mercy), and This Is Love continues that tradition.
Musically, the track blends folk and roots influences with an organic, communal warmth. The Calverley Community Choir adds an ethereal quality, creating a sense of togetherness and shared experience. Their harmonies elevate the song, giving it a sense of grandeur without losing its intimacy.
Instrumentally, the track is subtle yet deeply expressive. The acoustic arrangement allows the lyrics and vocal delivery to take center stage, while the gentle instrumentation supports without overpowering. It’s the kind of song that draws you in with its sincerity rather than flashy production.
One of This Is Love’s greatest strengths is its ability to ask big questions without forcing answers. Love is often difficult to define, and rather than offering a singular perspective, the song allows for interpretation and personal reflection.
It’s this universal yet intimate approach that makes This Is Love so effective. Whether the listener connects with it as a song about romantic love, self-love, or the love between friends and family, the message remains poignant and deeply felt.
The response to This Is Love has been overwhelmingly positive, with Rock and Reel Magazine praising Nick Cody’s work for its “warm, roots-style accessibility”. Jim Glennie, founding member of James, describes Cody’s music as “wonderfully innovative and explorative… packed full of strong melodies and ideas.”
With This Is Love as the lead single, the upcoming album This Is Love & Heartache promises to be a deeply personal and musically rich collection. If this song is any indication, the full album will likely explore the duality of love—the joy and the pain, the certainty and the questions—all wrapped in Cody’s signature thoughtful songwriting and melodic craftsmanship.
This Is Love is a tender, evocative track that feels both intimate and expansive. With its poetic lyrics, warm harmonies, and heartfelt delivery, it succeeds in capturing the beauty and mystery of love in a way that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.
As anticipation builds for This Is Love & Heartache, this single stands as a powerful introduction—a song that doesn’t just ask what love is, but invites us to feel it in every note.
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