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For years, Chris Arthur stood just outside the spotlight, behind the curtains while quietly wondering if he was ever going to build up the nerve to feel like he was meant to step through them. It took the collapse of a relationship to put him in survival mode where he realized his instinct for processing heartbreak and searching for meaning had always been songwriting. The songs were coming rapidly, but without any thought to do anything with them, he began sending voice memo recordings to a couple of his closest friends. One of those friends became very interested in what Arthur was up to.
Arthur’s debut album, Underneath The Scar, arrives August 6, 2026. Produced, mixed and recorded by Eric Sanderson, co-founder and multi-instrumentalist of acclaimed New York band Augustines. The album is a deeply personal journey through heartbreak, healing, and rediscovering the confidence to create.
For Arthur, Sanderson’s involvement was far more than a production credit and a studio to record at. Their friendship stretches back more than 25 years and grew when Arthur was brought in as Tour Manager for Sanderson’s former band Pela before continuing alongside Augustines in various capacities throughout much of the band’s rise between 2011 and 2016. Arthur also appeared in the award-winning documentary Rise: The Story of Augustines, directed by Todd Howe, chronicling the band’s remarkable journey.
That friendship ultimately became the catalyst for Underneath The Scar.
“Eric believed in what I was doing before I fully believed in myself,” says Arthur. “I was broken, dealing with lots of self-doubt and now was adding imposter syndrome into the mix and questioning whether I was wasting everyone’s time. His encouragement and my comfort level with him really provided me the space to be in such a raw and vulnerable state. This album probably doesn’t get made without him.”
Born from a life-changing heartbreak, the songs arrived unexpectedly.
“The songs started pouring out like I was bailing water out of me so I wouldn’t drown,” Arthur recalls. Rather than rearrange the material, Arthur chose to preserve the order in which the songs were written, allowing the album to unfold as an emotional timeline. Beginning with the first single, “All That Glitters Isn’t Gold,” the record follows the collapse of a relationship through grief, reflection, resilience, and ultimately hope. As each song unfolds, the line between Arthur’s story and the listener’s own begins to disappear.
Built around acoustic-driven songwriting and organic performances, Underneath The Scar values emotional honesty over perfection. It stands as a reminder that in an era dominated by playlists and short-form content, albums can still tell complete stories. This story features ten songs that chart the difficult but ultimately hopeful path toward healing.
Originally from Buffalo, New York and now based in Southern California, Chris Arthur believes music has the power to help people make sense of the experiences that leave lasting marks. With Underneath The Scar, he offers listeners not just his own story, but the possibility of recognising pieces of their own.
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For more information, please contact: Danielle Holian | danielle.holian@decentmusicpr.com