On the heels of announcing their new LP, ‘Wide Open,’ (out via Buzz Records, Kanine & Memphis Industries on October 6th) Weaves have shared the video from Walkaway, the album’s second single. The album’s first single, #53 was praised for its “brighter approach” to Weaves’ “unrelenting” style (Pitchfork), saw the band dubbed “anthem-makers” (Noisey), and was said “to bear traces of the grandeur that made ‘Born to Run’ soar” (Stereogum), and Walkaway furthers the ambitious trajectory established by the album’s leadoff track. Described by singer Jasmyn Burke as “a song about empowerment and finding light in the darkness,” Walkaway likely constitutes the most overtly “pop” statement yet from a group who have long been lauded for their unconventional engagement with the genre. The track sees Burke take center stage, throwing herself into an emotionally direct performance that reveals new facets of her unique and powerful voice, while the band bend their typically manic energy in an ascendent direction, bearing her sentiments aloft. Watch the video clip for the track via Vevo below.
“This is a reflective song in tone and at the time I wrote it I was stuck in a moment of having to make a decision to stay or leave an unhealthy situation,” says Burke. “It’s okay to admit that we’re vulnerable and having a hard time and sometimes you have to just walk away.”
“On this album I wanted to be less afraid to use my voice. I am a confident women, but I’m also a human and often vulnerable. We’re all capable of self-destructive behavior and sometimes we can lean towards being pushovers within our relationships, communication and commitment, but it’s important to push back, respect yourself and not stay stagnant out of fear.”
The video was directed by the band’s guitarist, Morgan Waters, and was shot at the same time as the album’s cover, which Burke says was inspired by the iconic final scene in the film ‘Heathers,’ and ties in thematically with both the song and the album as a whole.
“We shot the video and the album cover at the same time, and it makes sense to me to tie those images to this song, as, like a lot of this record it’s about personal agency and finding your way in difficult times.” she says. “There’s this fire and destruction surrounding us on the cover, which was initially inspired by the scene in the movie Heathers where Winona Ryder’s character stops her ex-boyfriend from setting off a bomb in the boiler room of the high school. She is covered in soot and blood, and she’s smoking a cigarette, as she re-enters the school with a new found clarity — she doesn’t want to try and fit in or be perfect anymore. I like that sentiment.”
In conjunction with the release of the single Weaves’ have announced that they will be supported by Tancred on their North American tour. Full details can be found below.
‘Wide Open’ is due out October 6th via Buzz (Can), Kanine (US) & Memphis Industries (RoW). It is available for preorder here.
Track list
1) #53
2) Slicked
3) Law and Panda
4) Walkaway
5) La La
6) Wide Open
7) Motherfucker
8) Scream (feat. Tanya Tagaq)
9) Gasoline
10) Grass
11) Puddle
Tour dates
09/16 – Lethbridge, AB – Love & Records
09/30 Toronto, ON, Venus Fest
10/06 Guelph, ON, eBar
10/07 Edmonton, AB, UPDT Fest
10/08 Hamilton, ON, Mills Hardware
10/10 Ottawa, ON, House of TARG
10/11 Montreal, QC, Le Ritz
10/12 Burlington, VT, ArtsRiot #
10/13 Boston, MA, Middle East Upstairs #
10/14 Philadelphia, PA, Boot & Saddle #
10/15 Washington, DC, DC9 #
10/17 Brooklyn, NY, Rough Trade #
10/20 Halifax, NS, Halifax Pop Explosion
10/24 Oslo, NO, Krosset
10/25 Copenhagen DK, Huset
10/27 Amsterdam, NL, London Calling Fest
10/30 Cologne, DE, Underground
10/31 Hamburg, DR, Haekken
11/02 Prague, CZ, Cross Club
11/03 Berlin, DE, Auster Club
11/06 Vienna, AT, Chelsea Club
11/08 Basel, CH, Kaserne ~
11/09 Geneva, CH
11/10 Paris, FR, Espace B
11/11 Brussels, BE, Botanique
11/13 Cambridge, UK, Portland Arms
11/14 Leicester, UK, The Musician
11/15 Glasgow, Scotland, King Tuts
11/16 Leeds, UK, Oporto
11/17 Manchester, UK, Eagle Inn
11/18 Newcastle, UK, Think Tank?
11/19 Birmingham, UK, Hare & Hounds
11/20 Bristol, UK, Crofters Rights
11/21 London, UK, Oslo
11/22 Brighton, UK, Green Door Store
# w/ Tancred
~ w/ TOPS
