Sunjay Releases New Single ‘It Must Be Love’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Split the Sheets’

Sunjay has released his new single “It Must Be Love”, a vibrant, upbeat take on a classic love song, ahead of the release of his forthcoming studio album.

Sunjay is an award-winning artist whose music draws on Americana, old-school rock ‘n’ roll, country, blues and roots, blending timeless songs with a fresh, contemporary energy.

“It Must Be Love” was written by Robert Lee McDill and famously recorded by Don Williams. The track arrives ahead of Sunjay’s tenth studio album, “Split The Sheets”, which explores the many shades of love, heartbreak and human connection.

“Split The Sheets” will be released on September 18th, 2026, and marks a significant milestone in Sunjay’s recording career.

The new single captures love in its simplest and most joyful form. Warm, playful and driven by a lively groove, Sunjay’s version retains the timeless directness of McDill’s songwriting while giving it a fresh, energetic band arrangement.

The release follows a run of high-profile radio exposure for Sunjay, including a recent appearance on BBC Radio 2’s “The Blues Show” with Cerys Matthews, as well as a live interview with David Freeman on Jazz FM.

That combination of appearances further demonstrates the breadth of Sunjay’s appeal across blues, roots, country and rock audiences.

Blending old-school rock ‘n’ roll, blues, roots and country influences with effortless authenticity, Sunjay has developed a sound that is unmistakably his own.

“Split The Sheets” represents a new high point in that career, combining beautifully produced songs with outstanding musicianship and arrangements full of character.

Sunjay first encountered “It Must Be Love” through Don Williams’ recording and was immediately drawn to its simplicity.

“I first heard ‘It Must Be Love’ by Don Williams and loved the fact that it says everything it needs to say in a simple, uncomplicated way,” says Sunjay. “The symptoms are fairly conclusive: you can’t sleep, you can’t think straight and you’ve developed a strange desire to sing about it. It must be love.”

For his own interpretation, Sunjay wanted to preserve the warmth and ease that attracted him to the song while bringing it into the musical world of “Split The Sheets”.

“I wanted to keep that ease and warmth while giving it a brighter, more energetic band arrangement,” Sunjay explains. “It moves quickly, has a proper groove, and doesn’t hang around making its point for six minutes.”

“After some of the more complicated relationships explored elsewhere on Split The Sheets, this is love at its most uncomplicated – slightly bewildered, thoroughly enjoyable, and already well beyond the point of resistance,” Sunjay adds.

The arrangement combines a brisk rhythm, tightly arranged guitars and a lively band performance, giving the recording plenty of movement while allowing McDill’s deceptively simple lyric to remain at its heart.

Sunjay sums up where the song sits within the wider record: “Split The Sheets looks at love from just about every possible angle. Some songs arrive carrying flowers, others appear with a solicitor. ‘It Must Be Love’ sits firmly at the happier end of the record – uncomplicated, good-humoured, and enjoying itself.”

“Sonically, it also shows what we wanted the album to be – proper songs, real musicians and arrangements with enough character to stand on their own,” Sunjay continues.

Sunjay’s musical journey began early. He won a music scholarship at school before being nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2012, aged just 17.

Since then, Sunjay has shared stages with acclaimed acts including Steeleye Span, Curved Air, Fairport Convention and Mud Morganfield.

Sunjay’s talent has earned praise from some of the country’s leading broadcasters. Mike Harding of BBC Radio 2 described Sunjay as “one of the best young pickers and singers around”, while Iain Anderson of BBC Radio Scotland called him “one of the UK’s finest young Blues stars”.

Blues Matters Magazine has described “Split The Sheets” as “a powerful, modern, and very vibrant piece of work, an album that positively fizzes with life, groove and emotional honesty”.

Sunjay will celebrate the release of “Split The Sheets” with an album launch party at St George’s Hall in Bewdley on 18 September, performing alongside the Mighty Tight Band.

Further live dates have also been confirmed for the coming months, with Sunjay taking the new material out on the road following the album’s release.

18 September – St George’s Hall, Bewdley – Album Launch Party with the Mighty Tight Band
2 October – Trottiscliffe Village Hall, West Malling
14 November – Foyer Folk at Number 8, Pershore

“It Must Be Love” features a full band performance behind Sunjay, credited as follows.

Sunjay – Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Percussion, Feet
Charlie Barker – Backing Vocals
Josh Clark – Drums & Bass
Katriona Gilmore – Backing Vocals & Fiddle
Jonny Henderson – Hammond Organ & Piano
Sarah Warren – Backing Vocals
Joe Wilkins – Electric Guitar

With “It Must Be Love”, Sunjay offers a warm, upbeat introduction to an album that promises to explore the full emotional spectrum of relationships, from the uncomplicated joy of falling in love to the more complicated realities that come afterwards.

“It Must Be Love” is out now on all digital platforms, and pre-orders for “Split The Sheets” are open now via Sunjay’s website.

Fans of Sunjay, and of Americana, blues and roots music more widely, will find plenty to enjoy as the countdown to “Split The Sheets” continues.