Waxahatchee Announces New Album Saint Cloud, Shares Resolute Lead Single “Fire”

Katie Crutchfield, the brain behind indie folk-pop act Waxahatchee, shared Wednesday news of her forthcoming album. Saint Cloud is set for release on March 27 via Merge Records, her fifth solo album as her moniker Waxahatchee. Crutchfield says she wrote the album briefly after her decision for sobriety. The album is largely inspired by travel, with inspiration coming everywhere from Barcelona to Tennessee. Crutchfield’s own evolution will herald a shift in arrangements, as well as further refinement sonically of the Waxahatchee sound, peeling away layers of guitars and other noisy elements of early-2010s singer-songwriters to showcase Crutchfield’s voice and storytelling ability.

For the album, Crutchfield enlisted the assistance of producer Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Big Red Machine), as well as Bobby Colombo and Bill Lennox of Bonny Doon, Nick Kinsey (Kevin Morby, Elvis Perkins), and Josh Kaufman (Hiss Golden Messenger, Bonny Light Horseman) to record as her backing band.

Crutchfield also shared the lead single from Saint Cloud, titled “Fire.” Of the track, Crutchfield said:

The idea and melody for ‘Fire’ was dreamt up while driving over the Mississippi River from Memphis into West Memphis, AR, sun reflecting off the water which literally made West Memphis glow. The song’s written by me, to myself. It’s about the internal dialogue of shame surrounding mistakes you’ve made in the past and how we spiral and beat ourselves up when we slip. It’s meant to be a bit of a personal pep talk. If I can love myself unconditionally, then I can move through the world a little easier. If I can accept that I only have a partial view of the universe, and that I can’t know everything or control much of anything, then I can breathe a little easier, take better care of myself, and be closer to my own truth.

The accompanying video for “Fire” is shot in an odd, wide aspect ratio, self-directed by Crutchfield alongside Andreina Byrne. She says the song was written during a drive over the Mississippi into West Memphis, and it shows here plainly: The video takes place mostly on the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge, with images of Crutchfield taping up signage as well as throwing them into an open flame. The track is as strong as it is vulnerable, with triumphant, quiet drums that serve as a battle cry for Crutchfield’s newfound determination in sobriety. Most notably, it’s Waxahatchee’s most direct pop song since Ivy Tripp’s excellent “La Loose,” a return to form with a distinctly modern, distinctly Crutchfield touch.

Listen to “Fire” below, and see the details of Saint Cloud further down, as well as Waxahatchee’s upcoming tour dates.

Saint Cloud Album Art:

Saint Cloud Tracklist:
01. Oxbow
02. Can’t Do Much
03. Fire
04. Lilacs
05. The Eye
06. Hell
07. Witches
08. War
09. Arkadelphia
10. Ruby Falls
11. St. Cloud

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 *

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