Philadelphia, PA noise-punks Empath share a video for “Passing Stranger,” the new single from their anticipated upcoming album, Visitor, out 2/11 via Fat Possum. The chamber piece was shot by Empath collaborator Halle Ballard in Catherine Elicson’s apartment.
“The beat was inspired by druggy Velvet Underground drums, on top of which Randall began improvising a heavy tremolo on his synth. One of the slowest songs we’ve ever written without an abrasive moment. We finally got to do a fade out,” says Elicson. “This song was written in a similar way to ‘Diamond Eyelids’ i.e. collaging together memories. This time I pieced together different memories from my childhood, some idyllic, some difficult, but as if it were a story about someone else returning to their hometown. The melody of this song was actually in a really old iPhone voice memo that I had made and forgot about. When I re-listened to it after a year or so, I was like damn this is catchy I gotta finish writing this one. I also wanted a song where I could bust out my sweep picking in a non-cringe way. I hope to be considered at the vanguard of sweep picking in pop music, thank you.”
Empath announced Visitor last year and released “Born 100 Times,” which The FADER named a ‘Song You Need In Your Life’, calling it a “headspinner,” and “Diamond Eyelids,” which Paste said is “as shoegaze as it is pop, without losing the noisy chaos that has made Empath such innovators.” Visitor was also named one of the most ‘Anticipated Albums of 2022’ by Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone said it “still sounds like Empath, only clearer, as though the mists surrounding their dream world had suddenly parted to reveal something even more radically inventive.”
Inspired by the disquieting scores of Nosferatu (1922) and The Wicker Man (1973) alongside David Bowie’s Low and forever favorites Fleetwood Mac, Visitor marks a seismic shift for the Philadelphia, PA quartet. While the album holds steadfast to the careening, joyous noise Empath staked their name on, Visitor was produced by Jake Portrait (Unknown Mortal Orchestra), making it the first release the band has recorded with a producer in a formal studio.
Empath is hitting the road with Fucked Up later this month. All dates below.
TOUR DATES:
1/19 – Ottawa, CA @ Club SAW ~
1/20 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz ~
1/21 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair ~
1/22 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Made ~
1/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts ~
1/24 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage ~
1/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls ~
1/26 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups ~
1/28 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter ~
~ w/ Fucked Up
