Ever found yourself holding on to someone even when a part of you knows they have not been giving you the same love in return? It is one of those feelings that is difficult to explain but all too easy to recognise. UK singer-songwriter Martin Yates taps into that emotional tug-of-war on his new single, “Through It All,” delivering a soulful pop track that pairs a timeless sound with a story that hits close to home.
As the second single from his upcoming autumn EP, “Through It All” continues to showcase Yates’ knack for turning personal experiences into songs that connect with a wider audience. His approach draws on the golden era of 1960s pop and Motown, bringing a vintage flavour to a modern pop-soul sound. There are also echoes of artists such as Amy Winehouse, Plan B and Duffy in the musical direction, giving the track a familiar soulfulness while allowing Yates to express his own perspective.
But what really makes this release interesting is the contrast between its lively sound and its painful subject matter. With a foot-stomping rhythm and energetic feel, “Through It All” has the kind of momentum that makes you want to move. Beneath that upbeat exterior, however, lies a story about loving someone who may not be able to give that affection back in equal measure. It is a reminder that a song can get your feet moving while leaving your heart doing some rather complicated things.
Yates does not treat heartbreak as a simple case of deciding to stay or walk away. Instead, he explores the messy middle ground, where affection, disappointment and loyalty can exist at the same time. You can recognise that someone has hurt you and still find yourself wanting the relationship to work. You can question what you have given up and yet struggle to imagine letting go. That emotional contradiction gives the song its human quality.
His vocal delivery is central to making that story believable. Yates has built his songwriting around personal narratives, and his voice helps bring those experiences to life, making the song feel like a confession shared over a classic soul groove. Rather than presenting love as a perfect fairytale, he embraces the moments when feelings become difficult to manage, and forgiveness is not nearly as straightforward as it sounds.
The retro influences also work in the song’s favour. Motown-inspired rhythms and 1960s melodies give “Through It All” a sense of familiarity, while its contemporary pop sensibility keeps the track accessible to modern listeners. It is a combination that suits the subject matter particularly well, allowing the music to feel warm and inviting even as the story deals with loneliness and emotional exhaustion.
What stands out about Martin Yates is his commitment to honest songwriting. With his debut EP already released, he continues to develop a musical identity built on relatable experiences, memorable melodies, and performances that put emotion front and centre. “Through It All” offers another glimpse of that approach, suggesting an upcoming EP shaped by the same desire to turn life’s complicated moments into something listeners can carry with them.
Ultimately, “Through It All” is for anyone who has given a relationship more chances than they intended, hoping love might eventually find its way back. It captures the uncomfortable truth that feelings do not always disappear when a relationship becomes painful. Sometimes, the hardest part is knowing what something has cost you and still caring about the person at the centre of it all.
With its vintage soul influences, energetic groove, and emotionally grounded storytelling, Martin Yates delivers a single that feels both classic and personal. “Through It All” may explore the lonely side of love, but it does so with enough musical warmth to keep listeners coming back for another spin.
Martin Yates turns the complicated business of loving someone who hurts you into a soulful, foot-stomping pop gem
