New York, NY – April 4, 2025 – Slow Joy – the Dallas-based, New Mexican-born Chicano artist Esteban Flores – shares his latest single, “Wound,” out this Friday, April 4th, ahead of his highly anticipated debut album A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming, arriving May 16 via Mick Music. Presave or preorder the album HERE. “Wound” captures the intensity and urgency of Slow Joy’s sound, fusing punk energy with melodic emotional depth and is out today alongside the official music video – watch HERE.
“Wound” follows the release of the album’s lead single “Gruesome” and Flores co-wrote it with longtime friend and OneRepublic collaborator Josh Varnadore, while “Gruesome” was penned alongside Zach DeGaetano and Jordan Witzigreuter (frontman of The Ready Set). These collaborations unlocked tighter hooks and a new, swaggering delivery from Flores, pushing his songwriting to new heights.
For A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming, Flores teamed up with renowned music producer Mike Sapone (Oso Oso, The Front Bottoms), who was also responsible for producing his recent critically acclaimed EP Mi Amigo Slow Joy (Mick Music, June 2024). The album was recorded at Ghost Hit Recording in Springfield, MA, with additional album sessions at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX. Blending grunge, emo, and shoegaze, Slow Joy transforms themes of loss and transformation into cathartic, soaring anthems.
Since the breakout success of Mi Amigo Slow Joy, Flores has rapidly gained momentum. The EP earned praise from FLOOD, Under the Radar, and the Dallas Observer, which named him “Best New Band.” His first-ever U.S. headline tour, currently underway, landed on Entertainment Weekly’s “Biggest Tours of 2025” list alongside Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Hozier.
In addition, Flores’ Chicano identity was a central theme to the EP and that continues with A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming, weaving through themes of resilience, longing, and self-discovery. With the debut album, Flores delivers his most personal and powerful work yet. “Wound” is out everywhere on April 4th—listen HERE & watch HERE—and A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming arrives May 16 on Mick Music. Catch Slow Joy’s electrifying live show on tour now.
