Exclusive: Bells Larsen Announces New Album Blurring Time

The Toronto musician’s second LP arrives April 25 on Royal Mountain Records. Listen to "514-415" below.

Exclusive: Bells Larsen Announces New Album Blurring Time

This morning, Toronto singer-songwriter Bells Larsen announced his sophomore album, Blurring Time. The release is slated to arrive April 25 via Royal Mountain Records and, in promotion of the new project, Larsen has shared its blooming and narrative lead single, “514-415.”

The Graham Ereaux-produced Blurring Time was created to embody the album title itself, aligning with Larsen’s own transition by recording his voice prior to beginning testosterone, then returning to the studio almost three years after to arrange new harmonies for his adjusted vocal register. Working with friend and recurrent collaborator Georgia Harmer, these sessions date back as far as 2022, resulting in the beautiful, dueted sound of both Larsen’s past and current selves. By capturing his own changes in the form of music, Blurring Time highlights both the ever-evolving nature of life, as well as the understanding that people are neither their past nor their present, but a synthesis of their existence as a whole.

“Many coming-of-age stories are furnished with dichotomies of the before and the after, without the two ever merging,” Larsen says. “For the purposes of Blurring Time, I didn’t want to have to choose between showcasing my past or present. Through the creation of this album—and of myself, I suppose—I wanted to change “or” to “and” with the hopes of extending a hand to older versions of myself, carrying them with me as I grow.”

“514-415” takes indie-folk balladry to a higher plane of existence. Larsen quietly strums his guitar as if scared to wake his mom in the other room, whispering through the opening verse of the song until the muffled rhythms of drums and bass come in. His two-part harmonies are on full display— abounding with love and comfort—and dancing between one another through each vivid, anecdotal delivery. Larsen likens himself and his old partner to “ships passing in the night,” a longing juxtaposition, yet stalwartly optimistic, confident that if their love is meant to be, they will find their way back to each other in time.

“’514-415’ is about the kind of long-distance relationship where you have an inkling that circumstance will prevent things from working out, but you still care deeply for the person nonetheless,” Larsen adds. “It’s quite special to be with someone through many chapters of their life and them through yours, especially when those chapters are furnished with so much change—be that moving cities or transitioning (this song references both).”

Watch the video for “514-415,” see Bells Larsen’s upcoming tour dates, and check out the artwork and tracklist for Blurring Time below.

Blurring Time Artwork:


Blurring Time Tracklist:
Blurring Time
514-415
The Way The Wind Blows
Calme Incertain
Questions
My Brother & Me
Composured Veneer
143
Might

Bells Larsen’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
5/1 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
5/2 – Hamilton, ON @ Mills’ Hardware
5/8 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
6/17 – Boston, MA @ O’Briens
6/18 – New York, NY @ Night Club 101
6/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble
6/25 – San Francisco, CA @ 4 Star Theatre
6/26 – Healdsburg, CA @ Little Saint
6/27 – Arcata, CA @ The Miniplex

 
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