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Oct 27, 2017 Julien Baker By Christopher Roberts

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Singer/songwriter Julien Baker released her new album, Turn Out the Lights, today via Matador, her first for the label. Now you can stream the whole album below.

Baker is on the cover of Under the Radar‘s current print issue (Issue 62/Fall 2017).

Previously she shared its first single, “Appointments,” (which was our #1 Song of the Week), as well as a moving video for the song. Then she shared the album’s title track, “Turn Out the Lights,” via a video for the song. Sophia Peer directed the video, which featured 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 wowed with her soaring vocals in another deeply felt song that acts as an envoy directly to the listener’s soul. “Turn Out the Lights” was also our #1 Song of the Week.

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 rave 9/10 review of Turn Out the Lights.

Pick up Under the Radar‘s current print issue (Issue 62/Fall 2017) to read our new in-depth cover story interview with Julien Baker.

Join Under the Radar on Patreon in the next week to win a vinyl copy of Turn Out the Lights.

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

Julien Baker Tour Dates:

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 %

* Half Waif and Petal support
** David Bazan supports
% Half Waif and Adam Torres support

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