Album campaigns often rely on a collection of singles that showcase different sounds or styles. Eric Hirshberg has taken a somewhat different approach. Each release leading up to More Is Not The Answer, due September 21, has explored a different idea, gradually revealing an album built around a common theme: attention.
The latest chapter is “What’s Not Wrong,” released today alongside the album announcement. The song poses a deceptively simple question that feels increasingly relevant in an era where headlines, algorithms, and social feeds are designed to keep people focused on conflict and crisis. Hirshberg asks listeners to spend a moment considering everything that quietly continues to make life worthwhile.
What makes the song effective is its restraint. Instead of presenting optimism as an abstract philosophy, Hirshberg grounds it in familiar experiences: spending time outdoors, making music with friends, discovering a memorable cup of coffee while traveling, reading, breathing fresh air, and appreciating the people who surround us. Those details give the song a conversational quality that feels approachable rather than idealistic.
The musical setting follows the same philosophy. A buoyant rhythm section, melodic hooks, and an easygoing vocal performance keep the message accessible without becoming overly sentimental. It’s the kind of arrangement that lets listeners absorb the lyrics naturally instead of feeling as though they’re being lectured.
Taken alongside earlier releases, the single reinforces the consistency of Hirshberg’s writing. “For Real,” featuring Aloe Blacc, centered on honest communication. “We’re All In This Alone” questioned the influence of digital algorithms. The title track reflected on priorities through the lens of the Los Angeles wildfires, while “Less Important Things” explored the emotional experience of children leaving home. Different subjects, but all connected by the larger question of where people direct their focus.
That thematic consistency may be influenced by Hirshberg’s previous career. Before turning to music, he spent years leading major creative organizations, including Activision and advertising agency Deutsch LA. Those experiences seem to have sharpened his interest in communication and the forces competing for public attention, ideas that now appear throughout his songwriting.
With More Is Not The Answer arriving in September, the project already feels unusually cohesive. “What’s Not Wrong” serves as an inviting entry point into the album’s larger ideas while standing comfortably on its own. It offers an optimistic perspective without pretending life is uncomplicated, encouraging listeners to notice the things that often disappear into the background.
