Waxahatchee and Jess Williamson Unveil New Project, Plains
The duo have announced an album and a North American tour with MJ Lenderman
Photo by Molly Matalon
Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield) and Jess Williamson have teamed up for a new, one-time-only collaboration called Plains. The duo shared their first single, “Problem With It” today (July 27) and announced their album, I Walked With You A Ways will be out Oct. 14 via ANTI-.
A classic country song, “Problem With It” finds Crutchfield and Williamson channeling the badass breakup anthems of strong Southern girls like The (Dixie) Chicks and Dolly Parton. An empowering track, Crutchfield’s twang and Williamson’s sugary drawl dance over a banjo as they avow, “If it’s all you got, yeah it’s all you gave / I got a problem with it / If you can’t do better than that babe / I got a problem with it.” There’s no trace of animosity towards the situation—instead, the duo place themselves at the center of the narrative, knowing their worth and ensuring that they honor it by refusing to accept the behavior they used to excuse. Driving fast past “the Jet Pep and Baptist Church,” it feels like that spontaneous moment of healing when you’re speeding out of your hometown and away from the heartbreak into the sherbet-colored sunset featured in the accompanying music video.
“I’m thrilled to announce this new project and album. I’ve felt a connection to Jess’s songwriting and a kinship with her since we met years ago,” Crutchfield said. “Getting to lean into the influence of the music we both grew up with while also making something that feels very current and fresh to me was a great experience and I’m so happy to finally share it.”
“Making this record with Katie was a deeply expansive experience for me as a songwriter. I really trust her ear and sensibilities, and she encouraged me to explore aspects of my songwriting that in the past I’ve shied away from. Katie’s support was so important for me as we wrote this album,” Williamson added of the project. “We gave ourselves permission to lean into the music that raised us and write the kind of classic timeless songs that we both grew up singing along to. For me that was The Chicks and Dolly Parton, and having a place to channel those influences was an absolute blast. My hope with Plains was to tap into something Universal. I love the album we made, and I’m so excited to play it live.”
Crutchfield and Williamson also announced a North American fall tour that will begin in October. MJ Lenderman will join them on all dates, which you can find below.
Check out the video for “Problem With It,” directed by Corbett Jones and Nick Simonite below, along with the tracklist and album art.
