Dirty Projectors Complete Their Cycle of Five EPs Released Throughout 2020

Today, Dirty Projectors release Ring Road, their fifth EP of 2020, completing the cycle of five and culminating their "most ambitious and earnest endeavor thus far" (Aquarium Drunkard). Each installment has been its own stylistic and emotional ecosystem, featuring band members Maia Friedman, Felicia Douglass, Dave Longstreth and Kristin Slipp taking turns in the lead vocal spotlight. Now, that mosaic ideal of the full-band Dirty Projectors is recapitulated as their voices come together all at once on the fifth and final Ring Road EP. 

Along with the release of Ring Road, the entire sequence of EPs is available today as a single cohesive twenty-song anthology. Titled 5EPs, the collection spans the existential folk of Windows Open sung by Friedman, Douglass's future soul on Flight Tower, Longstreth's endless melody on Super João, and the recomposed orchestral glitch that backs Slipp across Earth Crisis. As everyone trades verses on Ring Road, these closing four songs serve as conversations among a group where "every member is talented enough to be the lead" (Time). With three- and four-part harmonies, dual guitar lines, ecstatic hooks and the propulsive drumming of Mike Johnson, the emotional and sonic threads of the previous entries are filtered through classic signatures of full-band Dirty Projectors. As Entertainment Weekly says, "[5EPs] captures a more intangible motif: the celebration of creativity and the fortuitous bonds that form."

Listen to Ring Road: https://smarturl.it/RingRoadEP 

Explore 5EPs: https://smarturl.it/DPs5EPs 

Watch the brand new music video for "My Possession," the ending to both Ring Roadand 5EPs, and a stark prayer on the things we carry with us and the things we let go: https://smarturl.it/MyPossessionYT

Documenting a series of slow-motion smiles, spinning heads and splashes of water to the face, "My Possession" marks the sixth official music video Dirty Projectors have shared since the start of this new chapter. They've also released a breathtaking short film for Earth Crisis, remixes from Chromeo and Felicia's father Jimmy "The Senator" Douglass, a timely and tasteful cover of John Lennon's "Isolation," and a multitude of live performances ranging from pre-pandemic acoustic jams in Dave's living room to remotely-recorded productions for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, NPR's Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts and more.

5EPs was produced, mixed and recorded by Dave Longstreth, and lyrics were written in collaboration with the respective band member featured on each installment. While the limited edition, foiled and numbered box set has now sold out, 5EPs is available as a standard black double LP, a clear version exclusive to indie stores, and a CD here. It is also available digitally here.