Hutch — a 24-year-old British vocalist, songwriter and pianist — has introduced himself with “Never Like The First Time”, his striking debut on Deep End Recordings. The track immediately positions him as a powerful new storyteller, shaped by raw emotion, lived experience and a sound that cuts straight through.
The song is a pulsing, unguarded reflection on what it takes to keep going, and the personal toll that resilience can carry. Raised on the outskirts of Brighton, Hutch draws influence from artists such as Anderson .Paak, Little Simz, Loyle Carner and RAYE — musicians known for pairing sharp lyricism with openness — while the foundation of his craft is rooted in the jazz icons he grew up studying, including Oscar Peterson. Jazz piano was his earliest obsession, one that grounded him even as addiction disrupted his teenage years.
At 21, seeking a reset, he moved to Crawley — a space between stillness and city noise — where he began shaping the song that would become “Never Like The First Time.” The result is a clear-eyed depiction of perseverance and a compelling first chapter from an artist ready to speak candidly about where he’s been and where he’s headed.