“When I Think” just came out February 6th, and it’s one of those records that feels like someone’s been quietly observing your life and somehow turned your messiest thoughts into songs. The Norfolk folk singer has put together 11 tracks that refuse to let you zone out or put them on as background noise. You have to actually listen.

Right from “Lifeline,” the opening track, you can tell this isn’t your typical folk album. Ervin moves between these beautiful piano moments and then suddenly there’s guitars coming in with this rocky energy that catches you off guard. The whole thing feels restless in the best way, like he couldn’t settle on one sound because the stories he’s telling are too big for that.

What I keep coming back to is how personal it all feels. Songs like “Rainfall Memories” and “I Don’t Care” sound like the kind of things you’d write in your journal at 2am when you can’t sleep and your brain won’t stop replaying everything. There’s this rawness to his voice that makes you believe he’s actually lived through what he’s singing about.

The title track has an animated video that brings the song to life visually. It’s a song that sits with you after it’s over, the kind that makes you stare out the window for a while.

I have to mention that this album is dedicated to Aeron Z Jones, Ervin’s producer and friend who passed away recently. Knowing that adds this whole other layer to listening. You can feel that loss somewhere in these songs, but also the love and creative partnership they shared. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.

“One Step Beyond” is another track that stuck with me. Actually, most of them did. This is the kind of album where every song feels necessary, like each one had to exist.

Listen here.