Sylvan Esso Announce New Album What Now and North American Tour, Share New Single/Video

Acclaimed North Carolina indie-pop duo Sylvan Esso have just announced their forthcoming sophomore album, What Now, due out April 28 via Loma Vista Recordings. This is the follow-up to their pretty great self-titled 2014 debut, an electropop-folk fusion that boasts tight vocals, fluttering melodies and sleek production, and judging by the first three singles from What Now, it’s only going to get better.

What Now is said to be an album with a bolder approach to the band’s original formula. Sporting intenser vocals, bolder production and more irresistible melodies than before, What Now also tackles ideas that are both personal and political. It was recorded and produced during 2016, which we all know was a doozy, and seems like it’s about life as a millennial.

A press release describes the album as follows:

[What Now] is a record about falling in love and learning that it won’t save you; about the over sharing of information and the fine line between self-awareness and narcissism; about meeting one’s own personal successes but feeling the fizzling embers of the afterglow rather than the roar of achievement; about the crushing realization that no progress can ever feel permanent.

Along with a few appearances at SXSW, Sylvan Esso have also announced a tour promoting the album, with supporting acts including Field Report, Aero Flynn, Flock of Dimes and indie rocker Lucy Dacus, as well as their own one-day hometown festival at Shakori Hills in Pittsboro, N.C., on Sept. 30, where they’ll be joined by Tune-Yards, Wye Oak, Helado Negro, Well$ and more.

Again, What Now will be released on April 28. Check out the video for their new single “Die Young” below, find the record’s two previous singles here and here, and watch them perform lead single “Radio” live on The Tonight Show right here.

Sylvan Esso Tour Dates:

March
13 – Austin, Texas @ The Mohawk (AV Club Presents Just Another Manic Monday)
15 – Austin, Texas @ The Scoot Inn (Lagunitas x Independence Bug Out)
15 – Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater (NPR Showcase)

May
02 – Berlin, Germany @ SchwuZ [SOLD OUT]
03 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Bitterzoet
04 – London, United Kingdom @ The Village Underground [SOLD OUT]
05 – Paris, France @ Point Ephemere [SOLD OUT]
13 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Shaky Knees Festival
14 – Charlotte, N.C. @ The Fillmore *
18 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Brooklyn Steel *
20 – Philadelphia, Penn. @ Union Transfer *
23 – Toronto, Ontario @ Phoenix Concert Theatre *
25 – Burlington, Vt. @ Higher Ground Ballroom *
26 – Boston, Mass. @ Boston Calling Music Festival
27 – Boston, Mass. @ Boston Calling Music Festival
28 – Boston, Mass. @ Boston Calling Music Festival
27 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club *

June
13 – Madison, Wis. @ Majestic Theatre +
14 – Madison, Wis. @ Majestic Theatre ~
16 – Eau Claire, Wis. @ Eaux Claires
17 – Eau Claire, Wis. @ Eaux Claires

July
14 – Gräfenhainichen, Germany @ Melt! Festival
15 – Gräfenhainichen, Germany @ Melt! Festival
16 – Gräfenhainichen, Germany @ Melt! Festival

August
07 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue %
08 – Omaha, Neb. @ Sokol Auditorium %
10 – Denver, Colo. @ Ogden Theatre %
11 – Bellvue, Colo. @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre %
12 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ The Depot %
15 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Commodore %
16 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom %
17 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom %
18 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neptune $
19 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neptune $
22 – Oakland, Calif. @ Fox Theater %
25 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Wiltern %
26 – San Diego, Calif @ The Observatory North Park %
27 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Crescent Outdoors %
29 – Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater %
30 – Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater %
31 – Houston, Texas @ White Oak Music Hall

September
01 – New Orleans, La. @ Civic Theater %
15 – Charlottesville, Va. @ The Jefferson #
16 – Pittsburgh, Penn. @ Stage AE #
17 – Detroit, Mich. @ The Crofoot Ballroom #
19 – Columbus, Ohio @ Express Live! #
20 – Cleveland, Ohio @ House of Blues #
21 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Bogart’s #
22 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman Auditorium #
23 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre #
25 – Columbia, Mo. @ The Blue Note #
26 – Kansas City, Mo. @ CrossroadsKC #
28 – Louisville, Ky. @ Mercury Ballroom #
29 – Asheville, N.C. @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena #
30 – Pittsboro, N.C. @ Shakori Hills &

(* = w/ Lucy Dacus)
(+ = w/ Aero Flynn)
(~ = w/ Field Report)
(% = w/ Flock of Dimes)
($ = w/ Dana Buoy)
(# = w/ Helado Negro)
(& = w/ Tune-Yards, Wye Oak, Helado Negro, Well$)