Andy Shauf Announces New Album The Neon Skyline, Shares Lead Single “Things I Do”

Canadian indie-folk musician Andy Shauf has returned with a charming new single, “Things I Do,” from his forthcoming concept album The Neon Skyline. Shauf’s captivating storytelling lays out a crumbling relationship on the single, one piece of the bigger tale told across the record.

“Things I Do” opens with a laid-back groove highlighted by a soft chorus of saxophones that give way to Shauf’s anecdote. “Seems like I should have known better / Than to turn my head like it didn’t matter,” he sings at the beginning. Shauf’s self-reflective lyrics lay out the story of a man who wonders why he missed the signs of his failing relationship. Because of his naïveté, he’s shocked when he comes home to find his partner cheating. Each verse is punctuated by a repeated question: “Why do I do the things I do / When I know I am losing you?”

In a similar fashion to Shauf’s 2016 record, The Party, The Neon Skyline’s structure follows a storyline that takes place over the course of a night, according to a press release:

The interconnected songs on The Neon Skyline, all written, performed, arranged and produced by Shauf, follow a simple plot: the narrator goes to his neighborhood dive, finds out his ex is back in town, and she eventually shows up.

The Neon Skyline comes out Jan. 24, 2020, on ANTI-, and can be preordered on vinyl and CD here. You can listen to “Things I Do” and a cut from Shauf’s Daytrotter session below, and find his album details and tour dates further down.

The Neon Skyline Album Art:

The Neon Skyline Tracklist:
01. Neon Skyline
02. Where Are You Judy
03. Clove Cigarette
04. Thirteen Hours
05. Things I Do
06. Living Room
07. Dust Kids
08. The Moon
09. Try Again
10. Fire Truck
11. Changer

Andy Shauf 2020 Tour Dates:

February
07 – Columbus, Ohio @ Ace of Cups *
08 – Lexington, Ky. @ The Burl *
09 – Knoxville, Tenn. @ Barley’s Taproom *
11 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Exit/In *
13 – Houston, Texas @ White Oak Music Hall *
14 – Austin, Texas @ Mohawk *
15 – Dallas, Texas @ Deep Ellum Art Co. *
18 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Crescent Ballroom *
20 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Fonda Theater *
21 – San Francisco, Calif. @ August Hall *
22 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Harlow’s *
24 – Portland, Ore. @ Revolution Hall *
25 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neumos *
26 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Commodore Ballroom *
28 – Calgary, Alta. @ Bella Concert Hall *
29 – Edmonton, Alta. @ The Starlite Room *

March
02 – Saskatoon, Sask. @ Broadway Theatre *
03 – Regina, Sask. @ The Exchange *
04 – Winnipeg, Man. @ Park Theatre *
05 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Fine Line Music Hall *
06 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Colectivo *
07 – Chicago, Ill. @ Thalia Hall *
13 – Lyon, France @ Epicerie Moderne
14 – Bordeaux, France @ Krakatoa
17 – Birmingham, U.K. @ Hare and Hounds
18 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Mono
19 – Manchester, U.K. @ Gorilla
20 – Leeds, U.K. @ Brudenell Social Club
21 – Bristol, U.K. @ Fiddlers
22 – Brighton, U.K. @ Chalk
25 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique Orangerie
26 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ TivoliVredenburg
27 – Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotown
28 – Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
30 – Hamburg, Germany @ Elbphilharmonie
31 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Loppen

April
01 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Nalen Klubb
02 – Oslo, Norway @ Ingensteds
04 – Berlin, Germany @ Silent Green
05 – Cologne, Germany @ Luxor
06 – Rouen, France @ Le 106
07 – Paris, France @ Trianon
08 – London, U.K. @ Shepherds Bush Empire
24 – Toronto, Ont. @ Danforth Music Hall ^
25 – Montreal, Que. @ Corona Theatre ^
26 – Sheffield, Mass. @ Race Brook Lodge ^
28 – Boston, Mass. @ Paradise Rock Club ^
30 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Warsaw ^

May
01 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Union Transfer ^
02 – Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat ^
04 – Charlottesville, N.C. @ The Southern ^
05 – Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat’s Cradle ^
06 – Asheville, N.C. @ The Grey Eagle ^
08 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Terminal West ^
09 – New Orleans, La. @ One Eyed Jacks ^
10 – Birmingham, Ala. @ Saturn ^
12 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Hi-Fi ^
13 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Andy Warhol Museum ^
15 – Asbury Park, N.J. @ House of Independents ^
16 – Woodstock, N.Y. @ Colony Cafe ^

(* = w/ Molly Sarlé)
(^ = w/ Faye Webster)