Watch Madeline Kenney’s Video for New Track “Overhead”

Last month, Madeline Kenney shared the first single from her forthcoming sophomore album, Perfect Shapes. “Cut Me Off” is buoyant and streamlined, a groovy get-you-through-the-week track. “Overhead,” the album’s second single, out today (Wednesday, Aug. 15), is just as memorable, though weightier in the lyrical sense and more symbolic in its visuals. You can watch the thought-provoking video down below.

“Lyrically, ‘Overhead’ is about the societal expectations of women to have children, my own grappling with those expectations, and considering the value and depth in my life without children,” said Kenney, who also directed the video. The song’s lyrics indicate Kenney’s willingness to tackle issues, but it’s the bubbling electronic effects, dreamy guitar riffs and sunny fuzz that so acutely index her success in taking sonic risks, too.

The Oakland-based artist is also a co-choreographer on the video, sharing duties with Anna Greenberg and backed by a team of collected dancers. Kenney’s “demons” dance through the frames, only to be warded off by her back-up squad.

Perfect Shapes follows Kenney’s 2017 debut, Night Night at the First Landing, and was produced by Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner. Kenney is currently on tour with Wye Oak, and will kick off her own headlining run in September. Perfect Shapes is out Oct. 5 on Carpark Records—you can preorder it here.

A year ago, we highlighted Kenney as the Best of What’s Next. Read the Paste review of Night Night at the First Landing here and keep scrolling for Kenney’s tour dates.

Madeline Kenney Tour Dates:

August
15 – Dover, U.K. @ The Booking Hall *
16 – Bristol, U.K. @ Louisiana *
18 – Exeter, U.K. @ Exeter Phoenix *
19 – Birmingham, U.K. @ Hare & Hounds *
21 – Edinburgh, Scotland @ Summerhall *
22 – Leeds, U.K. @ Headrow House *

September
15 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Kings %

October
15 – Santa Cruz, Calif. @ The Crepe Place
18 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Rickshaw Shop
20 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Moroccan Lounge

November
01 – New York, N.Y. @ Baby’s All Right
02 – Lancaster, Pa. @ Tellus 360
03 – Washington, D.C. @ Songbyrd
04 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Philamoca
06 – Toronto, Ontario @ Monarch
07 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Beachland Tavern
08 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ MOTR Pub
09 – Chicago, Ill. @ Schubas
13 – Brighton, U.K. @ Green Door Store
14 – Bristol, U.K. @ Rough Trade Bristol
15 – London, U.K. @ Sebright Arms
16 – Paris, France @ Petit Bain
17 – Graz, Austria @ Autumn Leaves
20 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique Witloof Bar

(* = w/ Wye Oak)
(% = w/ Sugar Candy Mountain)