The National Share Another New Single, “Light Years”

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The National Share Another New Single, “Light Years”

Upon announcing their eighth studio album I Am Easy To Find, due out May 17 via 4AD, The National released its opening track, “You Had Your Soul With You”—next up is the album’s closer, “Light Years,” out now.

The Grammy-winning quintet’s new single arrives alongside a video featuring scenes from I Am Easy To Find’s short companion film of the same name, starring Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), who also appears on the album’s cover art, and written and directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mike Mills (20th Century Women).

“Light Years,” a plaintive reflection on lost love structured around a deft, tumbling piano figure, follows a trend set by “You Had Your Soul With You,” which prominently features vocals from longtime David Bowie collaborator Gail Ann Dorsey, contrasted with those of frontman Matt Berninger—the album to which these songs introduce us hinges on this dynamic. Sharon Van Etten, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Lisa Hannigan, Mina Tindle, Kate Stables (This Is the Kit) and others also sing across its 16 tracks, their points of view spanning I Am Easy To Find’s prismatic and expansive 68 minutes.

Mills, also credited as a co-producer on the album, had a major hand in its multidimensional direction. Bryce Dessner says of I Am Easy To Find, “It’s a movie about a woman, so shouldn’t there be women’s voices? We’re a band that’s been largely defined by the sound of one person’s voice where suddenly now we’re hearing others.” Berninger says, “Yes, there are a lot of women singing on this, but it wasn’t because, ‘Oh, let’s have more women’s voices.’ It was more, ‘Let’s have more of a fabric of people’s identities.’” He adds, “It would have been better to have had other male singers, but my ego wouldn’t let that happen.”

The National have also revealed today that their previously announced, already-sold-out “An Evening with The National” shows in Paris, London, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles in April will also include a screening of their I Am Easy To Find short film, as well as a Q&A session with the band, Mills and others.

The band’s world tour begins in Philadelphia on June 11, running all the way through a Dec. 5 show in Stuttgart, Germany. Courtney Barnett and Alvvays will open on select dates.

Listen to “Light Years” and The National’s 2007 Daytrotter Session below. Find the band’s full tour slate further down.

The National Tour Dates:

April
16 – Paris, France @ Olympia (SOLD OUT)
18 – London, U.K. @ Royal Festival Hall (SOLD OUT)
22 – New York, N.Y. @ Beacon Theatre (SOLD OUT)
24 – Toronto, Ont. @ Roy Thomson Hall (SOLD OUT)
26 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Orpheum Theatre (SOLD OUT)

June
11 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Mann Center*
12 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Prospect Park Bandshell*
13 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Prospect Park Bandshell*
15 – Manchester, Tenn. @ Bonnaroo
16 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Coca-Cola Roxy*
17 – St. Augustine, Fla. @ St Augustine Amphitheatre*
19 – Washington, D.C. @ The Anthem*
20 – Portland, Maine @ Thompson’s Point*
21 – Montreal, Que. @ Place des Arts
22 – Hamilton, Ont. @ Pier 8^
24 – Columbus, Ohio @ Express Live*
25 – Ann Arbor, Mich. @ Hill Auditorium*
26 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Lawn at White River*
28 – Chicago, Ill. @ Northerly Island^

July
10 – Manchester, U.K. @ Castlefield Bowl
12 – Madrid, Spain @ Mad Cool Festival
13 – London, U.K. @ Hyde Park
15 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Jahrhunderthalle
16 – Hamburg, Germany @ Stadtpark
18 – Rättvik, Sweden @ Dalhalla

August
04 – Waterford, Ireland @ All Together Now
06 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Summer Nights at the Bandstand
07 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Summer Nights at the Bandstand
09 – Sicily, Italy @ Ypsigrock
10 – Budapest, Hungary @ Sziget Festival
11 – Buftea, Romania @ Summer Well
14 – Paredes de Coura, Portugal @ Paredes de Coura
16 – Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop
16-18 – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands @ Lowlands
18 – Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop
28 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Deer Lake Park^
29 – Seattle, Wash. @ Marymoor Park^
30 – Portland, Ore. @ Edgefield^

September
01 – Stanford, Calif. @ Frost Amphitheater^
02 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Greek Theatre^
03 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Comerica Theatre^
05 – Ogden, Utah @ Ogden Amphitheater^
06 – Denver, Colo. @ Mission Ballroom^
07 – Denver, Colo. @ Mission Ballroom^
08 – Santa Fe, N.M. @ Santa Fe Opera House^
10 – Austin, Texas @ 360 Amphitheatre^
11 – Houston, Texas @ White Oak Music Hall^

November
25 – Warsaw, Poland @ Torwar Hall
26 – Berlin, Germany @ Columbiahalle
27 – Berlin, Germany @ Columbiahalle
29 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena

December
01 – Bochum, Germany @ Ruhrcongress
02 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium
03 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Samsung Hall
04 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith
05 – Stuttgart, Germany @ Porsche Arena

(* w/ Courtney Barnett)
(^ w/ Alvvays)

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