Wikipedia

Smitten (Pale Waves album)

Smitten is the upcoming fourth studio album by English rock band Pale Waves. It is scheduled for release on September 27, 2024, via the independent record label Dirty Hit.[4]

Smitten
The cover depicts a woman sitting in a darkened field; above her head, hanging from the sky, is a chandelier
Studio album by
Pale Waves
Released27 September 2024 (2024-09-27)
LabelDirty Hit
Producer
  • Simon Oscroft
  • Iain Berryman
  • Hugo Silvani
Pale Waves chronology
Unwanted
(2022) 		Smitten
(2024)
Singles from Smitten
  1. "Perfume"
    Released: 12 June 2024[1]
  2. "Glasgow"
    Released: 12 July 2024[2]
  3. "Gravity"
    Released: 15 August 2024[3]

Writing

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In late 2023, Kerrang! magazine asked the band's lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie about the album that would become Smitten, to which she replied: "All of my attention and energy is going into writing and recording our best album yet. Ultimately, that's about building a world that feels like Pale Waves, while also feeling completely different to anywhere we’ve inhabited before. We’re creating another universe for our fans to explore, and for us to live in for a moment."[5]

Music and lyrics

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Smitten opens with "Glasgow", which lyrically discusses the dilemma of "leaving someone because you know it's no good for either of you anymore".[6] Musically, the track has been described as "bittersweet" and "'80s-sounding", with a "soaring" chorus.[6]

"Perfume" explores the excitement of new love and the "complexity that comes with the beginning of a relationship".[7] Opening "with lead vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie letting out a wordless wail reminiscent of The Cranberries over a jangly, rhythmic guitar", the song has been compared by Atwood Magazine to the retro-pop sound of Pale Wave's early releases.[7]

Promotion and singles

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On 24 May 2024, Pale Waves performed at the 100 Club in London under the pseudonym "Perfume" as part of Dork magazine's "Dork Night Out" event series; at this concert, they debuted the song of the same name.[8][9] "Perfume" was later released as the first single from Smitten, debuting on BBC Radio 1's "New Music Show" with Jack Saunders on 12 June 2024.[1] A video for the track, directed by Georgie Cowan-Turner, was also released at this time, alongside an announcement about the album itself.[10][11] "Perfume" eventually peaked at number 13 on Billboard Japan's Hot Overseas chart.[12]

The second single from the album, "Glasgow", was released on 12 July 2024, along with an accompanying music video, which features Heather Baron-Gracie packing a suitcase and driving off in a car, all while clad in a wedding dress.[6] Baron-Gracie also served as the director of "Glasgow".[13] The third single, "Gravity", was released 15 August 2024. The music video for the song, also directed by Cowan-Turner, focuses on Baron-Gracie and Luck "spend[ing] a tender day together".[3][14]

To promote Smitten, Pale Waves organized a headline tour of the UK, which is scheduled to run from October 3 to October 18, 2024.[2]

Track listing

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Smitten track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Glasgow"
  • Heather Baron-Gracie
  • Simon Oscroft
3:34
2."Not a Love Song"  
3."Gravity"
  • Baron-Gracie
  • Hugo Silvani
3:35
4."Thinking About You"  
5."Perfume"
  • Baron-Gracie
  • Oscroft
3:39
6."Last Train Home"  
7."Kiss Me Again"  
8."Miss America"  
9."Hate to Hurt You"  
10."Seeing Stars"  
11."Imagination"  
12."Slow"  

Personnel

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Release history

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Country Date Format Variant Label Catalog no. Ref.
Various 12 June 2024 CD Standard Dirty Hit DH2067 [15][16][17]
LP Burgundy variant DH2059
Cream variant
TBA
Rough Trade variant DH2063
HMV variant
TBA
Cassette Black variant
TBA
Digital download
—
—
Streaming

References

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  1. ^ a b "Radio 1's New Music Show with Jack Saunders". BBC Radio 1. 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Skinner, Tom (3 July 2024). "Pale Waves announce 2024 UK headline tour". NME. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hardman, Neville (15 August 2024). "See Pale Waves' Romantic New Video for 'Gravity'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  4. ^ Hardman, Neville (12 June 2024). "Pale Waves announce new album Smitten". Alternative Press. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ^ Carter, Emily (30 November 2023). "Pale Waves' Heather Baron-Gracie: 'All my energy is going into writing our best album yet'". Kerrang!. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Skinner, Tom (12 July 2024). "Listen to Pale Waves' "Euphoric" New Break-Up Song 'Glasgow'". NME. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Childfree, Aaron (19 June 2024). "'I wanna make you my world': Pale Waves Capture the Excitement of New Love on 'Perfume'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Who are 'Perfume'?". Dork. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  9. ^ Muir, Jamie (30 May 2024). "Pale Waves kick off a brand new era at Dork's Night Out at the 100 Club, London". Dork. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  10. ^ Rincon, Skyy (12 June 2024). "Pale Waves Announce New Album Smitten For September 2024 Release, Share New Single & Video 'Perfume'". music.mxdwn.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ Ulitski, Rob (19 June 2024). "Pale Waves 'Perfume' by Georgie Cowan-Turner". Promonewstv. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ Mandell, Tyler (24 July 2024). "Pale Waves' Beautifully Produced Breakup Anthem 'Glasgow' Has an equally Amazing Video". Imperfect Fifth. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  14. ^ Pale Waves (15 August 2024). "Pale Waves – Gravity". Vevo. Retrieved 15 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Information about the release history of Smitten derived from the following Dirty Hit webpages:
  16. ^ "Pale Waves – Smitten". Rough Trade. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Pale Waves – Smitten (hmv Exclusive) Green Vinyl". HMV. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
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