Thomas Cole’s new single “Stubble” drops July 17, and it might be the most fun three minutes I’ve heard from him yet.
I got sent an early release version from Thomas’ PR and I have found myself singing it in the car before I even knew the actual words. That’s the kind of song this is.
On paper, it sounds like a simple bar flirtation track, all winks and playful energy. But listen closer and there’s something warmer going on underneath. Cole isn’t singing about polish or perfection here. He’s singing about the version of confidence that comes from just being yourself, rough edges and all.
He put it best himself: “Everyone has a story they survived. The stubble is simply the evidence.” That one line stuck with me. It’s a clever way of taking something small, something a lot of guys shave off without a second thought, and turning it into a stand in for maturity and character. This isn’t a song about noticing someone despite their imperfections. It’s about noticing them because of them.
Electropoint handled production, and you can tell. The track leans into the electro pop and dance sound Cole has built his career on, but there’s a subtle country twang woven through it that keeps things grounded. And that bass line under the chorus hits with more punch than you’d expect from something this bouncy.
“Stubble” is the kind of song that sneaks onto your playlist and just stays there. Paired with the music video dropping alongside it, this feels like Cole having genuine fun with a song, and that energy is contagious.