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Feb 12, 2025 By Mark Redfern Photography by Sarah Eiseman

SPELLLING (aka Chrystia Cabral) is releasing a new album, Portrait of My Heart, on March 28 via Sacred Bones. Now she has shared its second single, “Alibi.” The song features Turnstile guitarist Pat McCrory. Listen below, followed by her upcoming tour dates.

Cabral had this to say about the new single in a press release: “On ‘Alibi’ I’m tapping into the almost kind of comedic and hysteric relief that kicks in when you make it out of the other side of a toxic relationship. Once the spell is broken and clarity restores good sense there’s just this buoyancy to life that lets you laugh at the absurdities.”

Cabral also says that Liz Phair is an influence on the song. “I’m a huge fan of Liz Phair and I let myself channel her very candid and penetratingly plainstated approach to lyricism,” she says. “This song definitely unlocked this angsty side of myself that was very cathartic and fun to release.”

Previously SPELLLING released the album’s lead single, title track “Portrait of My Heart,” via a music video. It was one of our Songs of the Week.

SPELLLING’s last regular album was 2021’s The Turning Wheel, although in 2023 she released SPELLLING & the Mystery School, a collection of re-envisioned versions of songs from her previous albums re-recorded with her touring band. Said band is featured on Portrait of My Heart: Wyatt Overson (guitar), Patrick Shelley (drums), and Giulio Xavier Cetto (bass). The album also features Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi (who sings on the duet “Mount Analogue”), Turnstile guitarist Pat McCrory, and Zulu’s Braxton Marcellous. Cabral worked with three producers on the new album—The Turning Wheel mixing engineer Drew Vandenberg, SZA collaborator Rob Bisel, and Yves Tumor producer Psymun.

Read our My Favorite Album interview with SPELLLING.

Listen to our 2021 podcast interview with SPELLLING.

SPELLLING Tour Dates:

Fri. April 4 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Thu. April 24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Fri. April 25 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
Sat. April 26 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
Mon. April 28 - Austin, TX @ Parish
Tue. April 29 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Wed. April 30 - New Orleans, LA @ Santos
Fri. May 2 - Atlanta, GA @ The EARL
Sat. May 3 - Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
Sun. May 4 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage
Tue. May 6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Fri. May 9 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sat. May 10 - Amherst, MA @ The Drake
Mon. May 12 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
Tue. May 13 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Wed. May 14 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
Thu. May 15 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Sat. May 17 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Mon. May 19 - Reno, NV @ The Holland Project
Mon. June 9 - Bristol, UK @ Exchange
Tue. June 10 - Manchester, UK @ YES
Wed. June 11 - London, UK @ Village Underground
Thu. June 12 - Brighton, UK @ DUST
Sat. June 14 - Brussels, BE @ Rotonde
Sun. June 15 - Beekse Bergen, NL @ Best Kept Secret Festival
Mon. June 16 - Berlin, DE @ Lido
Wed. June 18 - Bern, CH @ Dampfzentrale
Fri. June 20 - Paris, FR @ Petit Bain

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