Hope Of The States frontman Samuel J Herlihy has shared his debut solo single, ‘The Entire Span Of Human Existence’. Listen below.
The vocalist of the Chichester indie band launched his solo career last week. He announced that his first show would be held at London’s St Pancras Old Church on Thursday December 11.
Additionally, Herlihy shared details of his entirely self-produced debut album – which was recorded on the cassette four-track that he used to make his first-ever songs when he was 13.
Now, the singer-songwriter has shared his reflective and haunting first track. Speaking about the piano-led ‘The Entire Span Of Human Existence’ on social media, Herlihy wrote: “To me it’s a bunch of haunted specifics somehow floating in a haze of half-truths and truly heavy actual events. It’s what I’d play if I could play at my own funeral. Which would be mad egotistical. And weird. And perhaps impossible if anyone believes in entropy etc.”
He went on to reveal that he had recorded the piano part in his “old primary school hall”, adding: “A week later they bulldozed the school. With the piano in it. Which was a waste of a mildly out of tune piano.”
‘…Human Existence’ was mixed by Herlihy and his “dear friend” Ed Harcourt at the latter’s Oxfordshire studio, the Wolf Cabin.
“Thanks to my family and friends for encouraging me/pushing me off this cliff,” he continued. “Thanks to my dear sweet kind legendary brothers in @hopeofthestatesband for the support […] I dunno. I’m very grateful it’s coming out. I hope you like it.”
Herlihy’s debut record is slated to arrive at some point in 2026, though no specific release date has been announced. It will be previewed by a further single, titled ‘The Accident’, in November.
Speaking previously about his collection of solo material, Herlihy explained: “These songs are kind of sad, and funny, and heavy and odd and are, I guess, memorials of a sort to everyone’s friends… weird childhoods, unhappy accidents and insane luck.
“They are for Them here, and Them long gone. I’d love anyone to come and hear me play.”
Hope Of The States returned a year ago with their first single since 2006, ‘Long Waits In A & E’. They have since shared two more new tracks with this year’s ‘Footage/Steamtrain’ and ‘Billboard Mountain’. The band also released a reissue of their 2004 debut record, ‘The Lost Riots’, for National Album Day 2025.
Earlier this month, Hope Of The States wrapped up a UK reunion tour – marking their first live shows together in almost 20 years. The trek included a performance at Islington Assembly Hall in London.
Herlihy spoke to NME about the trio’s return over the summer. When asked what his expectations were for the band in 2025, he responded: “Probably trying to not think about it as ‘the return’!
“The new stuff we’re making is really good. To be in a room with those boys and be on stage is exciting, and I’d like to just enjoy it. There is so much of it that we didn’t enjoy [the first time around]. We had a blast, but there was such a ‘thing’ around it all that we didn’t appreciate it like we should have.”
Herlihy added: “To be able to do this with a smile on our faces is all you can ask for. There’s a real sense of gratitude to be able to do this again.”
