Thomas Powers and Julien Baker team up for sombre new single ‘Empty Voices’
Thomas Powers and Julien Baker have collaborated for their sombre new single ‘Empty Voices’ – listen to it down below.
The Naked And Famous frontman has released the single, which will be part of his upcoming solo album ‘A Tyrant Crying In Private’. The LP is set to drop May 21.
Powers explained in a press release that the track is “an expression of fatigue and indignation, being on the receiving end of a heated, anonymous digital altercation. At the same time, it’s easy to act hypocritically and become a participant in an
exchange that leaves everyone feeling despondent.
“Social media encourages impulsivity and rewards volatility: if it enrages, it engages. But often, the voices worth listening to are not the loudest – they are careful, measured, and contemplative.”
Speaking of Baker’s feature on the track, Powers added: “I’m incredibly honoured to have Julien’s vocals and writing contributions on ‘Empty Voices’. We blasted through the recording and spend most of our studio time handing out, watching the sunset up on a hill in Echo Park.” Listen to ‘Empty Voices’ down below:
Powers has previously shared that Baker will appear on another track on the album, explaining how the collaboration came to be: “During the quiet of lockdown, I reached out to Julien, whom I had connected with years prior. It was an honor when she expressed interest in singing on ‘Empty Voices.’
“Julien recorded her parts and a handful of improvisations remotely. Initially, she sang in unison during the chorus, but I’m a stickler for a well-arranged duet, so I asked if she had time to jump in the booth to record some harmonies in LA.”
The New Zealand musician announced his new album in April, sharing that the record was “unapologetically me” and will traverse a wide array of genres, including “alternative, electronic, and neo-classical genres.”
“Bits and pieces of this record had been sitting around in my archives for as long as I’ve been working on The Naked And Famous,” he said, “but the first fully realized song was “Li.” When I finished that demo, I knew I’d found my center – my sound. The band was on hiatus, and it was the first lockdown of 2020, so I thought, “If not now, when?!”
In 2021, Powers’ bandmate Alisa Xayalith shared her debut solo single, ‘High Fidelity’.
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Alex Rigotti
NME
