HEY WHAT, the astonishing new Low album, will be released worldwide on September 10th, 2021 on Sub Pop Records. In anticipation of the new album, the beloved group is sharing “Days Like These,” the first single, and its official video, helmed by their longtime friend and director, Karlos Rene Ayala. You can watch “Days Like These” by clicking here.
HEY WHAT is Low’s thirteenth full-length release in twenty-seven years, and their third with producer BJ Burton. The new album finds the group focusing on their craft, staying out of the fray, and holding fast their faith to find new ways to express the discord and delight of being alive, to turn the duality of existence into hymns we can share. These ten pieces—each built around their own instantaneous, undeniable hook—are turbocharged by the vivid textures that surround them. The ineffable, familiar harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker break through the chaos like a life raft. Layers of distorted sound accrete with each new verse - building, breaking, colossal then restrained, a solemn vow only whispered. There will be time to unravel and attribute meaning to the music and art of these times, but the creative moment looks FORWARD, with teeth.
HEY WHAT is now available for preorder on CD/LP/CS/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers in North America and in the U.K, and in Europe will receive the limited Loser Edition on clear vinyl (while supplies last). HEY WHAT’s minimal album cover, evoking interference patterns, was designed by UK multidisciplinary artist Peter Liversidge.
HEY WHAT is the band’s first release since Double Negative, one of the best-reviewed albums of 2018, with year-end honors from Uncut (#1), The Guardian, MOJO, NPR, Vulture, The Wire, and more. The album also earned “Best of the Decade: 2010s” placement from Aquarium Drunkard, Brooklyn Vegan, Pitchfork, and Stereogum.
Low has announced a 30 date world tour with North American shows beginning in March 2022, with UK & European dates to follow in May. See below for a full list of shows.
North America 2022: Mar. 22 - Bloomington, IN - Bishop Mar. 25 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn Mar. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Mar. 28 - Washington, DC - Miracle Theatre Mar. 29 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live Mar. 31 - New York, NY - Webster Hall Apr. 01 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theater Apr. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount Apr. 04 - Toronto, ON - The Axis Club Apr. 05 - Detroit, MI - Loving Touch Apr. 08 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
UK & Europe 2022: Apr. 25 - Edinburgh, UK - Queen’s Hall Apr. 26 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street Apr. 27 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Cathedral Apr. 28 - Brighton, UK - St. George’s Church Brighton Apr. 29 - London, UK - St. John at Hackney Church - Apr. 30 - Bristol, UK - Trinity May 02 - Paris, FR - Alhambra May 03 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche Köln May 04 - Antwerp, BE - TRIX May 05 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso May 06 - Aarhus, DK - Voxhall May 07 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega May 09 - Hamburg, DE - Uebel & Gefährlich May 10 - Berlin, DE - Festsaal Kreuzberg May 11 - Vienna, AT - Wuk May 12 - Bologna, IT - Teatro Duse May 13 - Lausanne, CH- Les Docks May 14 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte
Low HEY WHAT
Tracklisting: 1. White Horses 2. I Can Wait 3. All Night 4. Disappearing 5. Hey 6. Days Like These 7. There’s a Comma After Still 8. Don’t Walk Away 9. More 10. The Price You Pay (It Must Be Wearing Off)
Today, June 16th, Flock of Dimes is releasing Live at Betty’s, a two-song live EP featuring Head of Roses standouts “One More Hour” and “Two,” which is available at all DSPs from Sub Pop. The songs were recorded live with a full band - which includes members of Mountain Man and Sylvan Esso - at Betty’s in Durham, North Carolina in the Spring of 2021. Wasner recorded the acclaimed Head of Roses at the studio in the summer of 2020, and these performances bring the songs to life in the very space in which they were conceived.
The Live at Betty’s EP also celebrates the announcement of Flock of Dimes’ first headlining US tour dates in support of Head of Roses this fall. The tour begins Tuesday, October 5th and runs through Monday, October 11th, and will include stops at Richmond Music Hall in Richmond (VA), Ottobar in Baltimore (MD), Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw (NC), Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia (PA), and Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn (NY). Her live band for these shows will include Matt McCaughan (Bon Iver), Alan Good Parker (Natalie Prass, Matthew E. White), and Michael Libramento (Hiss Golden Messenger, Dr. Dog, Floating Action), who also performed on the Live At Betty’s release. See a full list of dates below.
Flock of Dimes’ Head of Roses is available now on CD/CS/DSPs worldwide through Sub Pop. The album was produced by Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) and Wasner, engineered by Bella Blasko with additional engineering by Sanborn, mixed by Ari Picker and Blasko, and mastered by Huntley Miller. The album features appearances from guitarist Meg Duffy, Bon Iver’s Matt McCaughan, Wye Oak’s Andy Stack, and Landlady’s Adam Schatz. Head of Roses follows the release of Like So Much Desire, her acclaimed digital EP released June 2020 on Sub Pop.
Flock of Dimes’ Head of Roses has earned praise from international outlets including New York Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Sydney Morning Herald, NPR’s Weekend Edition, Uncut, PASTE (“Best Albums of April”), NPR Music (“New Music Friday” and “Best Albums of April”), Stereogum, Pitchfork, SF Chronicle, Guitar World, Under the Radar, and more. The album also spent 2 weeks at #1 on the NACC 200 college charts.
Recently, Stereogum included Head of Roses on its “Best Albums of 2021 (So Far),” and said, “We all know Jenn Wasner doesn’t miss, but her new Flock Of Dimes album is particularly masterful…From the scathing churn of “Price Of Blue” to fragile reckonings like “Lightning” or dreamlike yearning in “One More Hour,” she traces the mechanics of heartbreak and the arc of grief. She emerges from loss not just with a new understanding of herself, but one of the best albums of her career.” SPIN included the album on its “30 Best Albums of 2021” (So Far), and offered this, “Shifting away from the electropop of her debut, Head of Roses is full of spacious guitar compositions, designed to draw attention to Wasner’s silky voice — a winsome instrument used to deliver rough truths. “Hope is still keeping my head above water/ ‘Til the moment before I choke,” she sings with Dolly Parton-ish longing on “Awake for the Sunrise.” Wasner may be striving for joy, but roses can’t grow without dirt.”
Tour Dates Fri. Aug. 27th - Charlotte, NC - Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre ^ Tue. Oct. 05 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall Thu. Oct. 07- Baltimore, MD - Ottobar Fri. Oct. 08 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom Sun. Oct. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s Mon. Oct. 11 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg ^ w/ My Morning Jacket
What people are saying about Head of Roses: “More than anything she’s released before, Head of Roses makes room for the multiplicity of Wasner’s artistic voice. None of the singles sound anything alike — not the springy, off-kilter pop of ‘Two’ nor the slow-burning, psych-rock of ‘Price of Blue’ — and none of them quite prepare the listener for the gorgeously subdued second half of the album, which features several of the most stirring ballads Wasner has ever recorded. The common element holding all of these disparate parts together is her luminous, jewel-toned voice.” - New York Times
“Through blistering indie-rock songs and sparse, tender ballads, Head of Roses mines the dissolution of a romantic relationship to reveal the interconnections between loss and love, and between heartbreak and healing.”[“The Best Music of April”] - NPR Music
“An album that is as deeply introspective as it is creatively bold and ambitious (8/10).” - Uncut
“[Head of Roses] sees her incorporating her multifarious musical styles into a bright fusion of organic, dreamy rock and electronic pop.” [“22 albums we can’t wait to hear in April”] - The AV Club
“The album is — as you might expect — strikingly beautiful throughout.” - Stereogum
“Her second full-length outing, Head of Roses, is a triumphant signifier of professional and personal growth.” ★★★★ - The Independent
“A dazzling and harmonious display of styles and influences.” ★★★★ - The Sydney Morning Herald
”Head of Roses feels like an emotional journey where every new feeling, moment of rest and sonic surprise is hard-won.” [8.1/10] - PASTE
“Head of Roses is a journey toward healing and marks another strong entry in Flock of Dimes’ growing catalog of work.” ★★★★ - All Music
“The record is a stylish yet starkly honest amalgam of Wasner’s soul-searching introspection and multi-instrumental wizardry, merging dappled synth lines and woozy six-strings into bright cathartic compositions.” - Guitar World
“A project that ups the ante in her musical complexity… The impact is hypnotic.” - CLASH
“An album of subtle yet emotionally resonant songs.’ - Dusted
“The best material from the North Carolina artist’s prolific musical universe in years.” - SF Chronicle
“Not only a sonic delight, but a lyrical treasure trove full of personal truths that strike a universal chord (83/100)” - Beats Per Minute
“All hail Jenn Wasner. Whether it’s as one half of Baltimore dream pop combo Wye Oak or her solo project Flock of Dimes, Wasner’s songs take their time, fully enveloping you in reverb-drenched vocals and soaring electric guitars. From the first fuzzy riff to the closing staticky feedback breakdown, “Price of Blue” is heavy and immersive, delivering a standout track on an album with zero skips.” - Men’s Health
“Wasner’s command of grace for herself and others ultimately becomes a source of soothing as Head of Roses unfolds. Layers push aside to reveal a core scented with forgiveness and healing. Flock of Dimes has become the vehicle for Wasner’s most personal reflections, which makes it the one to treasure most.” - Under the Radar
“…Jenn Wasner’s second solo album sounds confident. Textural layers of guitar and synth offer depth, yet allow her voice to lead the way.” - Pitchfork
METZ have announced a long-awaited return to North American stages this year. In support of their 2020 critically-acclaimed album, Atlas Vending, METZ will take their intense, life-affirming performances on a co-headline run with longtime friends and fellow Canadians, Preoccupations. The tour will begin on Nov. 18 in Phoenix, AZ with stops including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Detroit, Montreal, Brooklyn, and Chicago before closing when METZ make a two-night hometown stand on Dec. 17 & 18 at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, ON. These dates are in addition to their previously announced European tour with Psychic Graveyard. See below for a full list of all global 2021 and 2022 shows.
Of their impending post-pandemic tour, frontman Alex Edkins shares, “We are incredibly excited to be announcing a real in-person tour for later this year! We cannot wait to share Atlas Vending with you and to reconnect with our musical friends and family worldwide.”
Today the band has also unveiled a live video of their stand-out single “A Boat to Drown In,” a clear reminder of the unparalleled energy and spirit of METZ live. The concert footage was shot at the Opera House in Toronto during their livestream performance of Atlas Vending at the end of 2020. Like what you see and hear? Then stay tuned for some exciting news the group will be sharing around their Live at the Opera House performance in the coming weeks.
METZ on the road:
2021: Nov. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom Nov. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom Nov. 20 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent Nov. 22 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom Nov. 23 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile - Showroom Nov. 24 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Nov. 26 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room Nov. 27 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Bar & Stage Nov. 29 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Park Theatre Nov. 30 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club Dec. 02 - Milwaukee, WI - The Back Room - Colectivo Dec. 03 - Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art Dec. 06 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount Dec. 07 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Dec. 09 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere: Hall Dec. 10 - NY, NY - The Bowery Ballroom Dec. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore Dec. 13 - Washington, DC - Union Stage Dec. 14 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar Dec. 15 - Chicago, IL - Metro Dec. 17 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only) Dec. 18 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only)
*All shows w/ Preoccupations except Toronto, Toronto on sale now, all additional shows on sale Friday, June 18th at 10 am local.
2022: Apr. 01 - Leicester, UK - O2 Academy 2 Apr. 02 - Blackpool, UK - Bootleg Social Apr. 03 - Manchester, UK - YES Apr. 04 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny Apr. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo Apr. 07 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Apr. 08 - Bristol, UK - Thekla Apr. 09 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store Apr. 10 - London, UK - Scala Apr. 11 - Lille, FR - L’Aeronef Apr. 12 - Antwerp, BE - Trix Apr. 13 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain Apr. 15 - Biarritz, FR - Atabal Apr. 16 - Vigo, ES - La Iguana Apr. 17 - Porto, PT - Hard Club Apr. 18 - Lisbon, PT - LAV Apr. 20 - Madrid, ES - Independence Live Apr. 21 - Barcelona, ES - LA 2 Apr. 22 - Nimes, FR - Paloma Apr. 23 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn Apr. 24 - Lausanne, CH - Les Docks Apr. 25 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Apr. 27 - Munich, DE - Kranhalle Apr. 28 - Vienna, AT - Arena Wien Apr. 29 - Berlin, DE - Lido May 01 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown May 03 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen May 04 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang May 05 - Groningen, NL - Vera May 06 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg May 07 - Cologne, DE - Artheater
Sub Pop is currently accepting resumes from energetic, responsible, detail-oriented, and dependable candidates for a part-time/weekend/night Sales Clerk position at our terribly impressive store at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This guy.
Responsibilities include:
• Greeting and assisting customers in a friendly manner. • Full compliance with Sea-Tac operation rules and strict TSA regulations and restrictions. • Efficient handling of cash and credit card transactions. • Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. • Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays. • Assisting in organizing and restocking the store. • Maintaining the general appearance of the store. • Contributing to the team retail effort by accomplishing related tasks as needed.
Qualified candidates will have:
• Previous experience in the retail environment. • Knowledge of the Sub Pop catalog, Pacific Northwest music, the Seattle music community, and the City of Seattle. • A friendly and enthusiastic disposition with customers and staff. • Strong and clear communication skills. • A general understanding of retail Point of Sale systems. • Flexibility in schedule and willingness to work early or late hours.
The Sub Pop Airport Store at Sea-Tac is open unusually long hours, generally, 6am - 10pm, and 365 days a year.
Sub Pop proudly presents new, exclusive, two-song singles by Duma, Hand Habits, and LIDS. The three singles are part of the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6, which continues Sub Pop’s incessant pandering to record collectors by way of limited-edition, subscription-only 7” vinyl singles. While the vinyl editions are only available to Singles Club subscribers – which you can become via the Sub Pop Mega Mart! – the music can now be heard on all digital music services. If you want the 7”s, hurry up and subscribe, as the 1,000 available subscriptions are nearly sold-out. Now that you’ve suffered through the sales pitch, here’s a bit about the artists!
Nairobi, Kenya’s Duma wowed us with their self-titled 2020 debut on Nyege Nyege Tapes. The duo – vocalist Martin Khanja (aka Lord Spike Heart) and producer/guitarist Sam Karugu - slams together metal, punk, industrial, and aggressive electronic music to blistering, boundary smashing effect. Their two songs, “Cannis” and “Mbukinya,” are a thrilling taste of Africa’s metal/experimental underground.
Hand Habits, the songwriting outlet of guitarist Meg Duffy, brings us two lovely new tracks: “motherless” and “no reply.” Lest the fact that we are releasing a Hand Habits record not make it clear, we at Sub Pop are huge fans of these specific songs, and Meg’s thoughtful, innovative, and all-around gorgeous music in general. Hand Habits’ next LP, produced by Sasami Ashworth, is out later this year on Saddle Creek.
LIDS is a new-ish band and veritable Canadian supergroup featuring Alex Edkins of METZ, Brian Borcherdt of Holy Fuck/Dusted, and Doug MacGregor of Constantines. Their single, “Furniture” b/w “Half Twin,” is LIDS’ second vinyl release (following the “Sarsfest” b/w “Blank Flag” single). The tracks make for a thoroughly engrossing 1-2 punch of melodic post-punk, with hints of Suicide and Television Personalities, and more than a hint of the rock-par-excellence LIDS’ members are known for.
The North American deluxe edition of Ya Tseen’s debut album, Indian Yard is now available on clear vinyl in the Mega Mart and in select indie record stores. The deluxe packaging will include a 24-page hardcover LP-sized book with covers featuring a sci-fi landscape populated by a toddler-wearing artist Merritt Johnson’s sculpture Mindset, a VR headset woven from sweetgrass. The interior art was designed by Galanin. This deluxe edition will be available while supplies last. To celebrate, they have shared an official video for the previously released song “Back in That Time,” (feat. Qacung) directed by Raven Chacon.
