Article Contributed by jbleicher.com
Published on November 7, 2025
Following last week’s release of their powerful new single “For Real” and the companion short EPK, singer-songwriter Eric Hirshberg and GRAMMY-nominated soul artist Aloe Blacc have released the official music video, out now. The track – which explores what it means to stay connected in an era of algorithms, outrage, and digital overload – has already resonated deeply with audiences for its honesty and heart.
The video offers an intimate look inside the studio as the two artists perform the song together, capturing the creative chemistry, sincerity, and shared purpose that define their collaboration. A meditation on empathy and understanding, “For Real” invites listeners to look beyond the noise and rediscover the humanity we share – themes that feel especially urgent in today’s world.
The song has already drawn praise across outlets for its message and musicality. Rave Jungle called it “a powerful new single,” Purple Melon hailed it as “a timely and vital piece of music,” and Plastic Magazine described it as “an anthem for unity in a fractured age.”
“For Real” is the first release from Hirshberg’s forthcoming third album, More Is Not The Answer, due in early 2026 – a new slate of material exploring human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. As v13.net noted, “The album title hints at more of this restraint. Less noise, fewer tricks, strong hooks. If the full set follows that plan, it will live or die on the writing. On ‘For Real,’ the lines do their job, and the melody does the rest – a promising sign of what’s to come.”
“This song started as a conversation about our phones,” says Hirshberg. “Like so many people, we were both trying to use the phone and social media less and to reduce the divisive influences in our lives. ‘For Real’ is a song about breaking free of the forces that divide us. It is about the importance of talking to and listening to each other, even when – maybe especially when – we disagree.”
For Blacc, “For Real” continues his long-standing mission to use music as a force for connection. “I believe in using music to try to lift people up and bring people together,” he says. “And the concept of this song is one that is needed right now.”
“For Real” arrives as the first glimpse of Hirshberg’s forthcoming third album, More Is Not The Answer, due in 2026. The project builds on the themes he explored in his previous album, Second Hand Smoke – praised by Relix for “exploring positive themes in the face of personal challenges” – while expanding his perspective outward, toward empathy, communication, and the pursuit of balance in a noisy world.
“For Real” is available now on all streaming platforms, with the official music video streaming on YouTube.
