Julien Baker has shared a first listen of her upcoming B-Sides EP with the release of “Guthrie,” the first of three songs to be recorded during her Little Oblivions sessions. As expected, the new single wields all the hallmarks of the singer/songwriter’s heart-rending introspections. Baker will perform at the Greek Theatre Los Angeles on July 28 & 29 alongside Sharon Vane Etten and Angel Olsen.
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Wielding her devastating vocals with rapturous conviction, Baker labors through the heavy intonations of “Guthrie” as a soul directionless and adrift. “Oh I miss when I was certain / About every little thing / Was so scared of forgetting / That I put it down in ink,” she cries out into the pitch-black room she always seems to be singing solitary from.
As always, Baker’s gutting reflections pierce the callousness and numbness that often scars over life’s inflictions. But she’s never more stirring than when she invokes a higher power — or rather when she finds herself squirming anxiously under the weight of her faith. “Used to call upon the spirit / Now I think heaven lets it ring,” she coos with cataclysmic despair.
But unlike her third album — which saw an expansion of her acoustically wrought sonics, plucked like dulcet sobs from her guitar — “Guthrie” is stripped of all accompaniments. Although as anyone who has seen Baker live can attest all she needs to shatter the most isolated hearts trapped in their glass jars is a few choice notes and the immense emotional heft of her wails.
B-Sides is out on July 21st via Matador Records, pre-order it here. Baker will also be performing at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on July 28 and 29 as part of Angel Olsen’s and Sharon Van Etten’s for their The Wild Hearts tour.
Visit Julien Baker’s website, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to Julien Baker’s new single “Guthrie” below!
Julien Baker tour:
Jul. 21 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts *
Jul. 22 – Asheville, NC @ Rabbit Rabbit *
Jul. 23 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Jul. 25 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater *
Jul. 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre *
Jul. 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre *
Jul. 30 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre *
Aug. 02 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheatre *
Aug. 03 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park *
Aug. 05 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Botanical Garden *
Aug. 06 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Gallivan Center *
Aug. 07 – Denver, CO @ Sculpture Park *
Aug. 09 – Minneapolis, MN @ Surly Brewing Festival Field
Aug. 10 – Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed *
Aug. 11 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *
Aug. 12 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Aug. 13 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Aug. 15 – Shelburne, VT @ The Green at Shelburne Museum *
Aug. 16 – LaFayette, NY @ Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards *
Aug. 18 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion *
Aug. 19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Skyline Stage at The Mann *
Aug. 20 – New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage *
Aug. 21 – New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage *
Aug. 26 – Vineyard Haven, MA @ Beach Road Weekend
* = with Quinn Christopherson
