Devendra Banhart Announces Cate Le Bon-Produced Album, Shares New Single

    Devendra Banhart has announced a new album and his first for Mexican Summer, Flying Wig, which is set for release on September 22. The follow-up to 2019’s Ma was made in collaboration with Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon. Check out director Matt Muir‘s video for the lead single ‘Twin’ below, along with the album cover, tracklist, and Banhart’s upcoming tour dates.

    “When Devendra and I originally discussed the creative approach to the ‘Twin’ music video, I really responded to the idea of searching for connection,” Murr explained in a statement. “We talked about the strange comfort of knowing that other people have experienced the pain or entrapment that we may be experiencing. I wanted to explore a framework where Devendra’s character is trapped in a cycle, but still finds beauty in the execution. Stylistically, we were definitely inspired by neon-soaked 1980’s neo-noir films, but we still wanted the video to feel somewhat timeless. We also left a lot of room for improvisation on the set, to make sure Devendra’s unique sense of humour was evident in the storytelling. He was such a supportive and inventive collaborator during the entire process, and I think that really shines through in the final piece.”

    Banhart had this to say about the new record:

    This entire record was inspired by Kobayashi Issa’s poem

    This dewdrop world-
    Is a dewdrop world,
    And yet,
    And yet…

    I’ve never read a more concise and clear illustration of hope… it just sweeps me away by the breadth of its scope…. as lonely as we might feel at our saddest, angriest, most desperate, most frustrated, most hopeless, most heartbroken moments, we have all felt that, everyone on earth, our ancestors before us, and those that will come after, have or will feel that…. The “and yet , and yet” is our ability to face despair with hope, to keep on failing and loving … It’s about transmuting despair into gratitude, wounds into forgiveness, grief into praise.

    Of working with Cate Le Bon, Banhart commented: “She’s the only person I wanted to make this record with. We set out to make a record sonically unlike anything I have made before – with a new creative partner at the helm. We definitely wanted a new sound, electronic yet organic and warm…we wanted to draw out and emphasise the emotional aspect of a synthesiser.”

    Flying Wig Cover Artwork:

    Flying Wig Tracklist:

    1. Feeling
    2. Fireflies
    3. Nun
    4. Sight Seer
    5. Sirens
    6. Charger
    7. Flying Wig
    8. Twin
    9. May
    10. The Party

    Devendra Banhart 2023 Tour Dates:

    Oct 3 – Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre
    Oct 4 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
    Oct 6 – Toronto, ONT – The Phoenix Concert Theatre
    Oct 7 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
    Oct 8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
    Oct 9 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
    Oct 11 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
    Oct 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
    Oct 13 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
    Oct 14 – Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
    Nov 7 – Lisbon, PT – Coliseu
    Nov 8 – Braga, PT – Theatro Circo
    Nov 10 – Madrid, ES – Palacio Municipal
    Nov 11 – Valencia, ES – La Rambleta
    Nov 12 – Barcelona, ES – Paral.lel 62
    Nov 14 – Paris, FR – Le Grand Rex
    Nov 15 – London, UK – Troxy
    Nov 18 – Lyon, FR – Le Transbordeur
    Nov 19 – Lausanne, CH – Theatre de l’Octogone
    Nov 21 – Milan, IT – Auditorium Fondazione Cariplo
    Nov 22 – Trieste, IT – Teatro Politeama Rossetti
    Nov 23 – Vienna, AT – Globe
    Nov 25 – Berlin, DE – Passionskirche
    Nov 26 – Hamburg, DE – Kampnagel
    Nov 28 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
    Nov 29 – Brussels, BE – Ancienne Belgique
    Dec 6 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park
    Dec 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
    Dec 9 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
    Dec 11 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
    Dec 12 Seattle, Wa – Neptune Theatre
    Dec 13 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom

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