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Oct 11, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Julien Baker

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Singer/songwriter Julien Baker is releasing her new album, Turn Out the Lights, on October 27 via Matador, her first for the label. Previously she shared its first single, “Appointments,” (which was our #1 Song of the Week), as well as a moving video for the song. Now she has shared the album’s title track, “Turn Out the Lights,” via a video for the song. Sophia Peer directed the video, which features Baker singing the song while she wanders the countryside following a spark in the ground, a fuse that’s been lit that leads to a burning piano. Once again Baker wows with her soaring vocals in another deeply felt song that acts as an envoy directly to the listener’s soul. Watch it below, followed by her upcoming tour dates.

Baker was recently a guest on the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion, where she performed “Appointments,” debuted another song from the album, “Hurt Less,” and also performed the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul,” as well as being interviewed by host Chris Thile.

Turn Out the Lights was recorded at the Ardent Studios in Baker’s hometown of Memphis, TN. Baker wrote and produced the album, which was mixed by Craig Silvey (The National, Arcade Fire, Florence & the Machine). It is Baker’s sophomore full-length, the follow-up to Sprained Ankle, which was released by 6131 Records in 2015.

A previous press release described the album like this: “Turn Out the Lights expands upon the sound and vision of Sprained Ankle while retaining the haunting, confessional songwriting style for which she has become known. Throughout the album, she reflects on experiences of her own and those closest to her, exploring the internal conflicts that wrestle inside us all: how we deal and cope with our struggles, and how it all impacts both ourselves and our relationships of all kinds. The result is a deeply empathetic album that embraces the grays and complex truths of humanity and mental health.”

Baker announced back in January that she had signed to Matador after interest from most of the important American indie labels. Matador previously released a new Baker 7-inch and shared both its A-side, “Funeral Pyre,” and B-side, “Distant Solar System,” an unreleased track from the Sprained Ankle sessions.

Read our 2016 interview with Baker and our 2015 Artist Survey interview with her.

Julien Baker Tour Dates:

10/12 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade +
10/13 Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom *
10/14 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle *
10/15 Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater *
10/17 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
10/18 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre *
10/20 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *
10/21 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
10/22 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall +
10/24 Toronto, ON @ Opera House +
10/25 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount +
10/27 New York, NY @ Town Hall *
10/28 Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
10/29 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
11/03 The Hague, NL @ Crossing Border Festival
11/04 Utrecht, NL @ Ekko
11/06 Bristol, UK @ The Lantern
11/07 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
11/08 Glasgow, UK @ CCA
11/09 Dublin, IE @ Whelans
11/10 London, UK @ Union Chapel (SOLD OUT)
11/12 Brussels, BE @ Autumn Falls
11/13 Paris, FR @ Les Etoiles
11/14 Berlin, DE @ Heimathafen Neukolln
11/15 Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefahrlich
11/16 Düsseldorf, DE @ New Fall Festival
11/17 Madrid, ES @ El Sol
11/18 Braga, PT @ Theatro Circo
11/19 Barcelona, ES @ La De Apolo
11/29 Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre**
11/30 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works**
12/01 Memphis, TN @ 1884 Lounge**
12/02 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall %
12/04 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre %
12/06 Missoula, MT @ Top Hat Lounge %
12/07 Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett %
12/08 Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre %
12/09 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre %
12/10 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater %
12/12 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore %
12/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Palace Theatre %
12/15 San Diego, CA @ The Irenic %
12/16 Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom %
12/18 Austin, TX @ Emo’s %
12/19 Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater %
12/20 Dallas, TX @ The Kessler Theater %

# supporting Jason Isbell
+ Half Waif supports
* Half Waif and Petal support
** David Bazan supports
% Half Waif and Adam Torres support

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