Pale Waves is entering a new era with the release of “Perfume” and with the announcement of their fourth album, Smitten. The 12-track LP is set to arrive on September 20 via Dirty Hit.
“Perfume” sees queer joy at the forefront of its lyrics. “When I saw you I knew it was over/I just laid down and surrendered/Oh, laying in the fields with you/Please tell me that we can make this last forever,” vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie sings over euphoric alt-pop chords.
“‘Perfume’ is the perfect introduction into the new world we’ve created,” Baron-Gracie says of the track. “It’s queer, feminine, and romantic and it encapsulates the essence of ‘Smitten.’”
Baron-Gracie continues, “I found myself writing about not just a certain time period, but my whole life, from years ago. When I fall in love, I fall deep, and it’s interesting to me that you can feel so fascinated and smitten with someone and then they can become a total stranger. So, I feel like ‘Smitten’ really summarized perfectly what I felt for others at a certain point.”
Smitten Tracklist:
- Glasgow
- Not a Love Song
- Gravity
- Thinking About You
- Perfume
- Last Train Home
- Kiss Me Again
- Miss America
- Hate to Hurt You
- Seeing Stars
- Imagination
- Slow
Throughout June, Pale Waves is supporting PVRIS on their North American tour. Check out the remaining dates below as well as upcoming UK-based festival performances. Secure tickets here.
Tour Dates:
- June 12—Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre *
- June 14—Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theatre *
- June 15—Chicago, IL @ House of Blues *
- June 16—Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall *
- June 19—Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall *
- June 21—Boston, MA @ House of Blues *
- June 22—Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts *
- June 24—New York, NY @ Irving Plaza *
- June 26—Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
- June 28—Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl *
- June 29—Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade, Heaven *
- July 1—St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live *
- July 6—Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin *
- July 7—Dallas, TX @ House of Blues, Cambridge Room *
- July 9—Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren *
- July 10—San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North *
- July 12—Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern *
- July 20—Benicassim, Spain @ Benicassim Festival ^
- Aug. 3—Derbyshire, UK @ Y Not Festival ^
- Aug. 4—Kendal, UK @ Kendal Calling Festival ^
- Oct. 5—Manchester, UK @ Neighbourhood Festival ^
* Supporting PVRIS.
^ Festival performance.
