Inches From the Heart, Jake Marsh’s edge of the bed Is a Debut Album of note

There’s something special about records that don’t feel like they were made so much as caught. Like you’ve walked into a room mid-thought and decided to stay quiet so you don’t interrupt. Jake Marsh’s debut album edge of the bed is exactly that kind of listen.

Out today, the NYC-born singer, songwriter, and producer delivers an 11-track project that feels intimate in the truest sense—close enough to hear the breath between lines, close enough to feel like he’s sitting across from you with a guitar instead of performing at you. The title isn’t poetic fluff either. This album really was built inches from the heart, written and produced entirely in Marsh’s bedroom during a hyper-focused stretch in fall 2024. Forty songs poured out between August and November, and the final eleven are the ones that refused to be ignored.

What makes edge of the bed hit is how unforced it all feels. The songs are hook-forward without chasing trends, guitar-led without sounding dated, and emotionally open without slipping into over-explanation. Jake has a way of saying things plainly—sometimes uncomfortably so—and letting that honesty do the heavy lifting. You don’t feel like you’re decoding lyrics; you feel like you’re overhearing a confession.

Sonically, the album lives at that sweet intersection of alt-rock bite and modern pop instinct. If you’ve already spent time with earlier releases like “5 minutes” or “problem child,” you’ll recognize the DNA immediately—but this record feels more settled, more confident in its messiness. It’s creatively free across the board: sonics, vocals, songwriting, even visually. The track titles appear in lower case, a subtle but telling detail from an artist who clearly isn’t interested in following a rulebook just because it exists.

There’s a looseness to the production that works in its favor. You can feel Jake’s relationship with his guitar anchoring everything, grounding the songs even when the emotions spiral. It often sounds like he’s alone in a room, playing and processing in real time—simple, catchy, and devastatingly effective. No overpolish, no unnecessary layers, just the right choices made instinctively until the song feels honest enough to keep.

And while 11 tracks might sound modest, it’s the perfect length. Enough to fully scratch the itch, not enough to leave you satisfied. The moment it ends, you want to start it over—not because you missed something, but because you don’t want to leave the headspace yet. Best believe this is a repeat-listen kind of album.

Jake Marsh has already been quietly building momentum, crossing over half a million streams and landing early love from Spotify’s Fresh Finds, New Music Friday, and Apple Music’s A-List Pop. But edge of the bed doesn’t feel like a “breakout” record chasing numbers. It feels like a foundation—an artist choosing sincerity over spectacle and trusting that the right listeners will find their way in.

After one full listen, you walk away feeling like you actually know him. Not the curated version. Not the press-ready one. The real one. And that kind of emotional connection? That’s top-tier songwriting, top-tier delivery, and the kind of debut that sticks with you long after the last chord fades.

Go ahead—pull up a chair. He’s already sitting there.