Dallas-based, New Mexican born Chicano artist Esteban Flores, aka Slow Joy has shared his new single “Gruesome,” off his upcoming full-length debut. It’s a melodic and hard driving first single, accompanied by an official video.
Slow Joy is set to release his full-length debut album A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming, on May 16th via Mick Music. For the LP Flores hunkered down with venerable alt rock producer Mike Sapone (The Front Bottoms, Oso Oso) at Ghost Hit Recording in Springfield, MA, and Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX to craft his highly-anticipated debut.
Slow Joy blends grunge, emo, and shoegaze with raw, heartfelt storytelling, turning loss and transformation into powerful songs. What began as a means of processing grief after his mother’s passing has since blossomed into one of alternative rock’s most compelling new voices and a full-time project.
Slow Joy’s Flores first went into the studio with Sapone last year to record his now critically acclaimed EP Mi Amigo Slow Joy (June 2024, Mick Music). Critics have likened his sound to The Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Smashing Pumpkins.
A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming is a sonic journey through longing and resilience, and throughout the album, Flores’ Mexican-American pride resonates. The gut-punch rocker “Te Amo” is especially moving and tracks like “Do I Wear You Out” and “Crawl III” showcase his ability to weave vulnerability into sweeping, cathartic soundscapes.
“Gruesome,” co-written by Flores, Vandadore, and DeGaetano, epitomizes the LP’s dynamic emotional depth—a fierce, chugging anthem that blends punk energy with tight hooks, marking a bold step forward for Slow Joy.
Flores will take A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming on the road in 2025 and beyond, bringing his story and Chicano roots to stages across the country.
