Nation of Language Explore The Madness of Desire on "Sole Obsession," First New Single & Music Video of 2023
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Today, Nation of Language free themselves from the binds of delusion and desire on "Sole Obsession." As the first new single and music video in another banner year for the Brooklyn-based band, the song's exhilarating, emotional journey also serves as an opening glimpse into the expansive world of their forthcoming third album. With more details yet to be announced, the LP's title is teased in the "Sole Obsession" lyrics, illustrating the alternate side of oneself that emerges during prolonged experiences of passionate fixation. Over layers of sharp and shimmering synths, and the track's hypnotic propulsion of bass and drums, singer Ian Devaney showcases immense range and irresistible melodies, his voice soaring with feelings of both liberating euphoria and deep contemplation. On "Sole Obsession," Nation of Language members Ian Devaneyand Aidan Noell say:
"In simplest terms, 'Sole Obsession' is one about knowing when, or if, to give in or give up. Particularly, when to untie the knots we tie ourselves into when an infatuation sets in. So many of us have experienced an addictive feeling that constricts us further and further until, hopefully, there's a moment of clarity that allows one to free themself from that particular compulsion. The title of our next album, Strange Disciple, is a lyric from 'Sole Obsession' which references a character of such a nature; one who finds themself an adherent to a subject that is probably not worth the devotion.
We chose to represent this with an anonymous robed figure that lives within all of us, waiting for us to don the cloak and take up our role, and we worked with John MacKay to bring the Disciple to life in the music video. Taking cinematic inspiration from Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) as well as Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal(1958), the Disciple is depicted as one of us, and we in turn are depicted as the Disciple."
Listen to "Sole Obsession" via [PIAS] and watch the music video HERE, directed by John MacKay and shot in 16mm around Queens and Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park.
"Sole Obsession" is further proof of Nation of Language's special ability to create "songs that make you want to dance and cry at the same time, that bring a sense of catharsis that so many are craving" (Document Journal). Beginning this spring, the band will debut the track and more of their new music live at their biggest headline shows yet. After making their TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, playing dozens of cities across the globe, and performing at 2022 festivals like Austin City Limits, Desert Daze and Pitchfork Paris, where they were named a highlight of the weekend, 2023 is about to bring Nation of Language to Brooklyn Steel, LA's Fonda Theatre, two sold-out nights at Seattle's Crocodile, London's Koko, Primavera Sound, Best Kept Secret, and more than two dozen other tour dates that have just been announced today.
Along with appearances at Outside Lands and Seattle's Day In Day Out, Nation of Language's run of newly added headline shows will stretch across North America this summer and fall, including stops in Portland, Vancouver, Austin, Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Toronto and beyond, with support from Miss Grit. Tickets go on sale at 10am local time this Friday, March 10th, following pre-sales that begin at 10am EST tomorrow. Find the full list of dates below, and more information at nationoflanguage.com/events.
Nation of Language - 2023 Tour Dates
4/28 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
5/4 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel^
5/17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre*
5/18 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile*
5/19 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile*
6/2 - Barcelona, ES - Primavera Sound Barcelona
6/6 - Madrid, ES - Primavera In The City
6/9 - Madrid, ES - Primavera Sound Madrid
6/11 - Hilvarenbeek, NL - Best Kept Secret
6/14 - London, UK - KOKO
8/11-8/13 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands
8/12 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
8/13 - Seattle, WA - Day In Day Out
8/14 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
10/13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre#
10/14 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop#
10/16 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon#
10/18 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room @ Colectivo#
10/19 - St. Paul, MN - Amsterdam Bar & Hall#
10/20 - Kansas City, MO - RecordBar#
10/22 - Denver, CO - Gothic#
10/23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge#
10/29 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up Tavern#
10/30 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom#
11/2 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn#
11/3 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips FTX#
11/4 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall - Upstairs#
11/7 - Nashville, TN - Basement East#
11/8 - Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle#
11/9 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle#
11/10 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer#
11/30 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair#
12/1 - Montreal, QC - Studio TD#
12/2 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix#
^w/ Gustaf
*w/ Reggie Watts
# w/ Miss Grit
Newly Announced Dates in BOLD
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For more information, contact Matt Hanks, Greg Jakubik or Annie Mickum at
Shore Fire Media, (718) 522-7171