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Jutes has come a long way from his days of experiencing desperate love.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Jutes (born Jordan Lutes) released his latest single, “It Takes Two,” with an accompanying music video. Ahead of its release, the 34-year-old singer tells PEOPLE about his “intensely emotional” songs — and writing from the perspective of his teenage self.
“‘It Takes Two’ feels more like how I used to be — in the sense of maybe a little bit toxic,” Jutes tells PEOPLE exclusively of the single.
“I was very desperately in love and not super in tune with my emotions and kind of being like, ‘If you leave I’ll die,’ kind of thing,” he adds candidly.
Josh Flores
Now, Jutes — who married Demi Lovato in May of this year — has grown past that mindset and found a healthy relationship.
“I’ve grown up a lot, and I’m in such a healthy place right now in my marriage. There’s literally zero toxicity,” he says.
Still, writing from that place is Jutes’ strong suit: “This song is my bread and butter as far as these really intensely emotional, kind of desperate songs that I write.”
In the music video, Jutes is performing on the edge of a building — and it’s meant to represent feeling like it’s “the end of the world” when someone walks out of your life.
“The guys who shot this video came up with this concept of me standing on the ledge of a building and playing into that,” he says. “Like, ‘Will you let me die? Will you leave if it means that I die?'”
“It Takes Two” will appear on the upcoming extended version of Jutes’ latest project Dilworth, named after the street he grew up on in Canada, which largely focuses on the emotions associated with his past.
Josh Flores
“It touches on so many emotions and so many things that I went through when I was younger,” he says.
“So I often pull from my younger days to get those really intense concepts,” he adds. “Dilworth has a lot of that on the album.”
Jutes is currently on the road for his Sleepyhead Tour in support of his 2024 album of the same name. The tour will wrap on Dec. 3 in Los Angeles.
In the past, Jutes has expressed fear and imposter syndrome over putting on his own headlining shows — especially as he navigates sobriety. These days, he’s gotten better at facing his fears head-on.
“I think that I’ve just gotten good at running head-first at fear and the things that used to really scare me, scare me less now because I do them more,” he says. “Your comfort zone grows the more you get outside of it. So for me, it’s not really about getting rid of [those fears] because that’s what I used to use alcohol and whatnot for. I just face them, and I am more aware that it doesn’t kill me when I do it. So I know that I just have to keep doing it.”
As he reflects on the meaning of Dilworth and writing from a version of himself he’s outgrown, Jutes assures that “it’s okay to change.”
“A lot of people love to say, ‘I never changed.’ It’s okay to change. It’s good to remember where you came from and who you used to be and be self-aware, but I think changing and growing is a prerequisite to being happy,” he says.
Jutes adds, “I think like allowing yourself to change, allowing yourself to outgrow whether it’s people or habits or lifestyle choices. And not beating yourself up for changing. I think changing has a bad reputation and I think changing is beautiful if it’s for the good.”
“It Takes Two” is out now.
