Hear Nate Ruess’ Epic ‘Grand Romantic’ Opener ‘AhHa’

Nate Ruess of fun. has shared the frenzied, multi-suite epic “AhHa,” the opening track off his upcoming debut solo album Grand Romantic. The single’s opening salvo is reminiscent of Ruess’ foot-stomping, Queen-inspired fun. works, but the track soon blossoms into a touching tale about breaking free, struggling with depression and finding salvation in music.

The “AhHa” lyrics also reveal how Ruess plucked his album title Grand Romantic. “By the time I turned 25 / I was lost among the pavement / lower than the basement, and I couldn’t stand to smile / I thought of taking my own life, but mama don’t cry,” Ruess sings. “I found songs among the tragic / hung my hat on sadness / Mom, I think they’re trying to keep the grand romantic in me.”

“AhHa” follows Ruess’ debut solo single “Nothing Without Love.” Speaking to Rolling Stone, the fun. singer opened up about his upcoming album, set for release June 16th, which began with songs he penned for fun.’s Some Nights follow-up before deciding to keep the tunes for himself. “You get a little selfish about the songs that you write, and it’s really hard to do that in a group setting, where there are two other people, and you have to think about everybody else’s feelings,” Ruess said. “I’m writing and singing these songs about myself. When you work with producers versus bandmates, that line becomes a lot less blurry.”

Despite Ruess’ solo LP and guitarist Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers project, fun. have promised fans that the trio is not breaking up, but they are going on hiatus until they are “inspired” to reunite again. “One thing that has always been so special about fun. is that we exist as three individuals in music who come together to do something collaborative,” the group said in a joint statement. “We make fun. records when we are super inspired to do so.”