Jack Barakat plays first show under WhoHurtYou project

November 27, 2019

It’s hard to believe its been five months since All Time Low guitarist Jack Barakat first started posting teasers for his new project WhoHurtYou. Together with bandmate Kevin Fisher, the duo have continued to celebrate a year of firsts with their innaugural song, EP and now show.

Barakat is venturing into a more alt-pop sound with the new project with Kevin Fisher on vocals. The guitarist confirmed the project in June, opening up about how mental health and a big breakup kickstarted the collab. Following their first show announcement in September, the duo took to the stage for the first time last night.

More on Jack Barakat and WhoHurtYou

Shortly after confirming the project’s existence with an important message on mental health, WhoHurtYou released their first single, “Wish We Never Met.” They followed it up with “Nobody Wins” in August and “Not The One” in October before their debut Stages EP in November.

“‘Not The One’ is a song about rushing into intimacy with new people shortly after a breakup,” WhoHurtYou shared on Instagram. “It’s about spreading yourself too thin by moving on sooner than you should all while wondering if your ex is doing the same. It’s a reminder to be true to yourself and take the time you need to heal.”

WhoHurtYou previously opened up to AltPress about breaking the mental health stigma and using their platform to promote the benefits of therapy and the importance of asking for help.

Read more: Jack Barakat, Kevin Fisher break mental health stigma with WhoHurtYou

“I tried therapy years and years and years ago,” Barakat begins. “I’m talking like 10 years ago. I had only gone to one or two sessions. I had gone from one session to another session trying to find the right person. And I think it’s important to know just because they’re a therapist doesn’t mean they’re the right therapist for you. I had gone years ago and didn’t really like it that much and didn’t really find someone I had clicked with. Looking back, after finding someone I got along with and understood me and whatnot, I wish I had stuck with it and given those people more than one or two sessions. It’s important to know that therapy isn’t a “you go in and you’re fixed,” you know? You go in, and you’re telling your life story. You’re explaining all your things. It’s a very long process. The first time I started going with the right person, I’d found it just changed me and made me realize I’m not crazy. [Laughs.] The thoughts I’m having are normal and what everyone goes through.”

The band unleahsed their first EP, Stages, via Fueled By Ramen. The release chronicles the stages of a breakup and can be streamed here. Following the EP debut, the band shared a fun take on a Katy Perry classic, “The One That Got Away,” which you can check out here and below.