Tāmaki Makaurau-based singer-songwriter Ali Whitton has released his first official single, Quiet My Heart, a tender, introspective track that marks the beginning of a new chapter for the indie-folk artist, with his debut album Between the Forest and the Stars arriving in April 2026.
Built on soft acoustic textures and a restrained emotional weight, Quiet My Heart explores what it means to hold it together during moments of personal chaos. Written while navigating a separation and trying to stay steady for his young son, Whitton channels vulnerability without ever losing his grip on clarity.
The release also comes with a visual, a contemplative, slow-moving music video filmed along the south coast of Wellington. Directed by Sadie Wilson, the clip leans into the quiet intensity of the track, pairing waves, wide skies, and moments of stillness with the song’s lyrical focus on internal resolve.
While Whitton’s name may be new to some, he’s been writing and performing under the radar for years. Born in New Zealand but raised in rural Yorkshire, he spent his early 20s gigging in London, often appearing on the same lineups as a young Ed Sheeran. The two stayed in touch, and in 2023, during Sheeran’s NZ tour, the pair reconnected.
After hearing a rough version of Quiet My Heart, Sheeran challenged Whitton to write a song a week for a year, offering support to record a full album if he followed through. That songwriting sprint eventually became Between the Forest and the Stars, produced by Dave Khan (Marlon Williams, Tim Finn) with contributions from Reb Fountain, Gus Agars, and Steve Harrop.
Whitton’s sound is grounded in the warm, familiar world of indie folk, earthy but melodic, heartfelt but unforced. Quiet My Heart doesn’t demand attention; it draws you in slowly, like someone telling a story they’ve taken their time to live through first.
Ali Whitton is currently playing a short run of New Zealand shows with fellow songwriter Tom Cunliffe, including stops in Wellington, Oamaru and Christchurch.
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