Hope Handwritten

Hope Handwritten is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Hope Tala, released on 28 February 2025 through PMR.

Release

On 5 April 2024, Hope Tala released the single "I Can't Even Cry". She released her second single of the year, "Bad Love God", on 28 June 2024. She released the single "Thank Goodness" on 16 August 2024. On 25 September 2024, she released "Shiver" as a single. Tala formally announced the album and its release date, alongside its fifth single, "Jumping the Gun", on 17 October 2024. The album's sixth single, "Survival", was released on 25 November 2024. She released "Phoenix" as a single on 24 January 2025. The album's final single, "Magic or Medicine" was released on 25 February 2025.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	72/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash	8/10
DIY
Dork	5/5
The Guardian
NME

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Hope Handwritten received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.

Luke Winstanley of Clash praised the album as a "fascinating blend of joyous R&B hooks [...], sparkling dream pop guitars [...] and luxurious balladry." Hollie Geraghty's review for NME concludes that album is "for going through the growing pains of your twenties and accepting the unknown of it all, but never refusing to feel it." Katie Hawthorne of The Guardian wrote that "Tala ruminates on heartbreak, self-confidence, faith, family and friendship" on the album "over a honeyed mix of bossa nova, R&B and pop, and in her gorgeous, breathy voice". Writing for DIY, Ife Lawrence praised the album's lyrics, describing it "full of heart and introspective, candid lyricism."

Track listing

Hope Handwritten track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Growing Pains (Prologue)"	Hope Natasha McDonald	Baca & Brandn	3:29
2.	"Jumping the Gun"	H. McDonaldCaroline Ailin Maureen McDonaldIsabella Sjöstrand	H. McDonaldAnton GöranssonSocial House	3:11
3.	"Lights Camera Action"	McDonaldJonah ChristianTommy King	ChristianKing	3:23
4.	"Magic or Medicine"	McDonaldChristianDaniel Traynor	ChristianGrades	3:03
5.	"Breaking Isn't What a Heart Is For"	H. McDonaldAilinM. McDonaldSjöstrand	Greg Kurstin	2:52
6.	"I Can't Even Cry"	H. McDonaldAnoop D'Souza	D'Souza	3:41
7.	"Thank Goodness"	H. McDonaldAilinM. McDonaldSjöstrand	Stint	3:20
8.	"Survival"	H. McDonald	Ari PenSmith Jacob Olofsson	3:33
9.	"Phoenix"	H. McDonald	Baca & BrandnNolan Lambroza	2:39
10.	"Fall Too Hard"	H. McDonaldAilinM. McDonaldSjöstrand	Kurstin	3:32
11.	"Lose My Mind"	H. McDonaldD'Souza	D'SouzaRob Arágon	3:19
12.	"Bad Love God"	H. McDonald	Social HouseTSB	3:23
13.	"A Story to Tell/Where I Begin"	H. McDonaldD'Souza	H. McDonaldD'Souza	4:37
14.	"Miracle"	H. McDonald	LophiileYoungteam	2:54
15.	"Shiver"	H. McDonaldD'SouzaOlofsson	D'SouzaPenSmithOlofsson	3:25
16.	"Heartbeat (The End)"	H. McDonaldD'SouzaShaan Ramaprasad	D'Souza	2:54
Total length:	53:24

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Musicians

Hope Tala – vocals (all tracks), guitar (track 13)
Brandon Garcia – guitar, piano (1, 9); arrangement, drum programming, synthesizer (1)
David Baca – drum programming, vocals (1); bass, guitar (9)
Isaac Mallach – cello (1, 9)
Sarah Hennessy – violin (1)
Jonah Christian – drum programming, guitar (3, 4); bass, drums (3); keyboards, synthesizer (4)
Tommy King – keyboards, organ, piano (3)
Grades – drum programming, keyboards (4)
Greg Kurstin – bass, guitar, Rhodes (5, 10); strings, Wurlitzer (5); drums, percussion, synthesizer (10)
Jacob Olofsson – bass, drum programming, drums, synthesizer (8)
Ari PenSmith – synthesizer, vocals (8)
Nolan Lambroza – Mellotron, Wurlitzer (9)
Anoop D'Souza – bass, guitar, piano (11, 13, 16); arrangement, drum programming, Rhodes (11); drums (13, 16); barrel organ, percussion, vocals (13); organ (16)
Rob Arágon – guitar (11)
Laine Johnston – violin (11)
Ali Ramsey – vocals (13)
Anaïs Cardot – vocals (13)
Lophiile – drum programming, drums, keyboards, synthesizer (14)
Youngteam – drum programming, guitar, synthesizer (14)
Shaan Ramaprasad – viola, violin (16)
Sie Romero – vocals (16)

Technical

Jaycen Joshua – mixing, mastering
Mike Seaberg – mixing, engineering
Greg Kurstin – mixing (10); engineering, recording (5, 10)
Emily Lazar – mastering (10)
Jonah Christian – engineering (3), recording (3, 4)
Jacob Olofsson – engineering (8)
David Baca – engineering, editing (9); recording (1)
Nolan Lambroza – engineering (9)
Anoop D'Souza – engineering, recording (11, 13)
Tyler Acord – engineering (14, 16), recording (16)
Julian Burg – recording (5, 10)
Matt Tuggle – recording (5, 10)
Brandon Garcia – recording (1)
Chris Bhikoo – engineering assistance
Jacob Richards – engineering assistance