London-based artist Hongza has returned with a new single and music video titled Out of Place, released on April 23. This marks his first release since his 2024 debut EP Coming of Age, which gained critical praise and was featured among the year’s best EPs.

With a sound rooted in indie pop, dream pop, and shoegaze, Hongza channels personal struggle into Out of Place, a track born from years of disillusionment in the music industry. He reflects on the emotional toll of navigating an environment marked by anxiety, exploitation, and betrayal — a pressure that ultimately inspired this cathartic release.

In his own words, the single emerges from a breaking point: a moment of feeling mentally fractured by the demands and disappointments of the industry. Out of Place is not just a personal reckoning — it’s a song he offers directly to listeners, shaped by hardship but grounded in honesty and connection.

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