The “Until I Found You” crooner kicks off 2026 by honoring the people who started it all: his grandparents.
After spending the last few years transported in the cinematic, 1950s-inspired world of Angel Face, Stephen Sanchez is opening a more personal chapter. On Friday, the multi-platinum singer-songwriter released his latest single, “Sweet Love,” a track that trades the fictional drama of his debut album for a grounded, sun-drenched tribute to enduring romance.
The accompanying music video, directed by Jason Lester (the visual architect behind recent works for Hozier and Laufey), is a nostalgic trip home—literally. Shot at Sanchez’s grandparents’ house, the video stars the couple themselves. It’s a full-circle moment for the 23-year-old artist, who has often cited his grandfather’s record collection as the primary spark for his obsession with the golden age of radio.
“‘Sweet Love’ really encapsulates the beautiful parts of love, and the active choice we have to make, to love one another every day,” Sanchez said in a statement. “I was inspired by my grandparents’ relationship while writing the song and it was so special to have them star in the video.”
The release comes on the heels of a surprise, sold-out pop-up show last night at The Basement East in Nashville. Fans who managed to snag tickets were treated to the first live performance of “Sweet Love,” alongside a setlist of fan favorites and a handful of unreleased tracks that suggest a larger body of work is on the horizon.
“Sweet Love” marks Sanchez’s first solo release since the critical success of 2023’s Angel Face. While that record established him as a master of mid-century melodrama, the “upbeat production” of the new single suggests he is ready to explore the “good, the bad, and the ugly” of modern romance with a bit more tempo.
If the buzz in Nashville is any indication, this is merely the opening salvo for what his team is calling a “massive 2026.” After a two-year hiatus from solo releases, Sanchez seems poised to reclaim his title as the leading voice in the retro-pop revival.
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