Harrison First Releases Emotionally Charged New Album WAAR on JNRY FIRST
New Jersey-born and Stockholm-based Harrison First has released his latest full-length project, WAAR, via his independent label, JNRY FIRST. The 11-track album draws from a year of personal upheaval and emotional transformation, blending elements of Afro house and broader rhythmic styles from across the African diaspora.
A multidisciplinary creative, Harrison First works across music, film and design. His career includes performances across the US and Europe, contributions to world-building projects and collaborations with artists such as Ängie, Teflon Sega, The Good Son and more. He has amassed over 100 million streams to date and previously appeared on Spotify playlist covers including Hot New Dance.
The title WAAR stands for “Wavering As A Reed” and reflects the introspective nature of the project. Described as a personal exploration of chaos, heartbreak and renewal, the album is marked by its storytelling and emotional honesty.
The record opens with the ambient and spoken-word title track setting a reflective tone. Subsequent songs explore themes of change, self-awareness, and emotional recovery. Tracks like "Game Theory" combine Afro tech rhythms with lyrical vulnerability, while "Move On" captures the emotional weight of a breakup through subdued synth work and layered vocals.
Other highlights include "Us," which pairs melancholic textures with auto tuned vocal work, and "Healthy Pain," which explores the complexity of personal accountability. The album closes with "Where was God," a sparse and contemplative ambient piece.
WAAR is available now on all major streaming platforms.
