In the winter of 2022, Conor Maynard disappeared from social media, leaving his 13M+ followers scratching their heads. The silence was even more curious after what had been a whirlwind year for the famously prolific songwriter and YouTube star, which saw him travel the world on his biggest headlining tour to date, hitting more than 20 cities across the US and Europe. With the release of his “If I Ever” single, fans are getting the answers they’ve been looking for.
Conor Maynard – “If I Ever” lyric video
“If I’m honest, at the end of 2022 I went through a really rough breakup, which led to the decision to take a step back from everything, rather than trying to pretend I was fine. I took the time to pour it all into the only thing that ever seems to help me get through difficult moments – my music.” — Conor Maynard explained
Following his time away from the spotlight, Conor has returned with the first taste of a bold new slate of material that he plans to release throughout 2023. Featuring fiercely personal songwriting and new confidence found touring the world, “If I Ever” marks a creative turning point for Conor, as he lets the abundant skills of his youth blossom and steers him into new directions of artistry and creativity.
“I can’t bare to see you again.”
“‘If I Ever’ is the first of a series of songs I wrote about an extremely difficult breakup I went through last year. It was a unique relationship and hard to write about because 90% of it took place over phone calls and video calls, which I understand was common during the pandemic. This song captures my emotional experience following that breakup, and the anticipation I continue to feel about my upcoming appearance in her hometown of Sydney, Australia, since in our last conversation, she told me she still hopes to see me there.” – Conor Maynard explained
Conor Maynard rose to fame in 2012 when he won MTV’s Brand New for 2012 award, competing alongside Delilah, Michael Kiwanuka, Lana Del Rey, and Lianne La Havas.
Conor was later signed to Parlophone and became one of the first home-grown talents to transition from online to IRL pop stardom, proving the power of digital audiences while breaking new ground for countless other upcoming artists. He earned the mentorship of Ne-Yo and then exploded with his debut album, “Contrast,” which reached #1 and produced five Top Ten singles.
The album catapulted Conor to international stardom, with his YouTube channel alone boasting 13.3 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views. World tours, awards, and collaborations with major artists followed, including Pharrell Williams, The Invisible Men, and Rita Ora. Conor even starred in the Broadway show, “Kinky Boots,” showcasing another side to his multi-faceted talent.
Conor Maynard
“Sonically, this song is very different from any of my previous work, drawing inspiration from artists like The 1975 and The Weeknd. The song may sound quite upbeat and positive at first, but upon a closer listen, you’ll realize that the lyrics are about a desperate heartbreak. I collaborated with one of my close friends on this track, writing and scrapping more than 50 songs over the course of a few months before we finally found a way to translate the story in a way that felt authentic to me.” – Conor Maynard explained
10 years after the debut album that changed his life, Conor realized it was time for him to go at it alone. He left his label and took his career to new and unchartered heights, racking up over 300 million streams in 2021 alone, without any major player backing. It takes his worldwide reach to a staggering scale: Spotify streams of his music surpassed two billion, and he quickly become the 7th most followed TikTok music account in the UK, despite only joining the platform in 2020. The decision also allowed him to bring his music to new, adventurous heights, with a sense of artistic liberation lying at the heart of his new material.
Conor will continue to release material from this new era of creativity throughout 2023. Stay tuned for continued updates and keep an eye on Conor’s socials to follow his return to the world stage.
“If I Ever” single
We recommend adding Conor Maynard’s “If I Ever” single to your favorite contemporary pop playlist. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc’s famous catchphrase, That’s All Folks! Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment – the hot spot for new music and entertainment news. Always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E). Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what’s going on. Disclaimer: This post contains Apple Music affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, we’ll collect a share of sales or other compensation.