Waxahatchee Shares New Saint Cloud Single and Music Video, “Lilacs”

Waxahatchee, the music project of songwriter Katie Crutchfield, shares the single “Lilacs” ahead of her much-anticipated fifth studio album Saint Cloud, along with a music video featuring dancer Marlee Grace grooving in what seems to be a vacant brick building.

Saint Cloud is set to hit shelves on March 27, and the single “Fire” from the record was shared earlier this year. The album embraces an Americana aesthetic, even leaning into country twang and pared-down instrumentals in order to let Crutchfield’s voice shine. The album was written in the wake of Crutchfield deciding to get sober, which makes the album a self-examination—and even a letter of self-love and encouragement at times.

“Lilacs” in particular conveys a grappling to come to terms with not being loved well enough, either by a significant other or oneself: “If I’m a broken record write it in the dust, babe / I’ll fill myself back up like I used to do / And if my bones are made of delicate sugar / I won’t end up anywhere good without you / I need your love too.”

Crutchfield says of the song in a statement:

“Lilacs” was the last song i wrote for the record and it’s mostly just about obsessive/negative thought patterns. It’s about backsliding into old behaviors that don’t serve you and sort of letting your worst self get the best of you. I think that when people are in that mindset they can really try to turn the blame onto other people, so the song sort of plays out like a conflict you’d have with someone you love. It’s meant to capture that moment of heat that happens right when you realize you’re wrong or that your issue is more with yourself than with someone else—being flawed and fragile but making progress inch by inch.

“The chorus serves as a sweet little resolve,” she adds. “I wanted it to feel like the light at the end of the tunnel, and the reminder that it can always and often does get better.”

You can watch the video for “Lilacs” (dir. Ashley Connor) below and be sure to check out Waxahatchee’s extensive North American tour dates further down. You can preorder Saint Cloud here.

Waxahatchee Tour Dates:

April
10 – Detroit, Mich. @ Jam Handy *
11 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Rex Theater *
14 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Union Transfer *
15 – Holyoke, Mass. @ Gateway City Arts *
16 – Boston, Mass. @ Royale
17 – Providence, R.I. @ Columbus Theatre *
18 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Elsewhere ^
19 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Elsewhere ~
23 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club *
24 – Saxapahaw, N.C. @ Haw River Ballroom *
25 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Mercy Lounge *
26 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Terminal West *
27 – Birmingham, Ala. @ Saturn *
29 – Baton Rouge, La. @ Mid City Ballroom *
30 – Houston, Texas @ The Satellite *

May
01 – Dallas, Texas @ Sons of Hermann Hall *
02 – Austin, Texas @ Scholz Garten *
04 – Tucson, Ariz. @ Club Congress +
07 – Pioneertown, Calif. @ Pappy and Harriet’s +
08 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ First Congregational Church of LA +
09 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Castro Theatre
10 – Sonoma, Calif. @ Gundlach Bundschu Winery +
12 – Portland, Ore. @ The Old Church +
13 – Portland, Ore. @ Aladdin Theater +
14 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Christ Church Cathedral +
15 – Seattle, Wash. @ The Neptune Theatre +
20 – Maquoketa, Iowa @ Codfish Hollow Barn
21 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Fine Line Music Cafe *
22 – Madison, Wis. @ Majestic Theatre *

August
06-08 – Waynesville, Ohio @ Bellwether Festival

(* w/ Ohmme)
(^ w/ Radiator Hospital)
(~ w/ Bonny Doon & Shamir)
(+ w/ Mirah)