London, UK – Courtney Hadwin returns with her latest single, “You Only Love Me When I Lie,” a soul-infused blues rock ballad featuring a solo from legendary guitarist Steven Van Zandt. Van Zandt, AKA Little Steven, is best known as a founding member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, a radio host, and an award-winning actor (The Sopranos, Lilyhammer). The track captures the emotional toll of hiding one’s true self to be loved. Anchored by a heavy, guitar-led production, her raw, soaring vocals reveal Hadwin’s breaking point, when suppressing her truth becomes unsustainable. “You Only Love Me When I Lie,” featuring Little Steven, is now available to stream and download on all major music platforms worldwide.
Blending classic blues rock with a soulful edge, “You Only Love Me When I Lie” is a punchy track that showcases the grit in Hadwin’s raw, electrifying vocals. Lyrically, the song explores the strain of feeling unseen in a relationship built on illusion rather than honesty, an emotional weight that becomes impossible to ignore. As the track unfolds, her perspective sharpens, revealing a growing clarity beneath the exhaustion. Featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Little Steven on lead guitar, the collaboration brings a timeless rock depth that complements Hadwin’s distinct, modern, and unfiltered energy. “Courtney and I had been looking for something to do together for a while, and she and Kevin Bowe write such cool songs together, so when I heard the track, I thought this is the one,” said Van Zandt. A longtime supporter of Hadwin, Van Zandt has championed her music on his SiriusXM show Little Steven’s Underground Garage, naming “Monsters” and “Spellbound” as “Coolest Song in the World This Week,” while “All The Love (Money Can Buy)” went on to win “Coolest Song in the World” for 2025. “I’ve known Steven for a good few years now, and he’s always been very supportive of me and my music,” says Hadwin. “When he said that he loved the song and had a cool idea for it, I was so intrigued. I think it brings so much more colour to the track.” In addition to Van Zandt, the single features a lineup of seasoned musicians, including Grammy-winning Kevin Bowe (Etta James, Lynyrd Skynyrd) on bass, Noah Levy (Brian Setzer, Five For Fighting, Soul Asylum, Golden Smog) on drums, and Tommy Barbarella (Prince, Nick Jonas, Miley Cyrus) on keys. A portion of the proceeds for this track will benefit TeachRock.org to aid in their mission of supporting music education in schools.
Through her bold stage presence and captivating vocals reminiscent of Janis Joplin, Courtney Hadwin had amassed international recognition at just 13 through her standout Golden Buzzer audition on America’s Got Talent, drawing millions of viewers. Despite the challenges of navigating the music industry early in her career, Hadwin chose to forge her own path, moving away from pop conformity and creating music on her own terms while staying true to herself. Now at the age of 21, with the release of her debut album Little Miss Jagged last year, and a headlining UK tour under her belt, Hadwin continues to build an increasingly impressive resume. Hadwin has earned praise from various media outlets such as Pop Dust, EARMILK, The Big Takeover, XS Noize, Rock Sound, and FAULT Magazine, and has continued to impress her loyal following of 4.1 million followers across social media.
“You Only Love Me When I Lie,” featuring Little Steven, is a visceral rock ballad that ultimately represents the clarity that comes when one can no longer hide from living in a fantasy built with another person. This track is now available to download worldwide on all major streaming platforms. To keep up with the latest updates on Courtney Hadwin, follow @courtneyhadwin on Instagram and TikTok, and visit her website, CourtneyHadwinMusic.com.
