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According to front woman Heather-Baron-Gracie, ‘Perfume’ is “the perfect introduction into the new world we’ve created”. It’s an infectious track heavily inspired by bands like The Cranberries and The Cure and just the notion of being head over heels for someone. Try to think back to all the diary entries you wrote as a teenager about your first crush and then plug that straight into an amp then add some gothic undertones and an 80s backing track. You can check out the single along with the music video for ‘Perfume’ below.

It premiered on Wednesday night as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record and Baron-Gracie describes the track as “queer, feminine and romantic”. The track feels reminiscent of 80s synth ballads and it seems the band are exploring a new sound that is devoted to the reflective and romantic through the new single and the upcoming album. According to NME, Baron-Gracie noted that she feels she falls very deeply in love and finds it interesting ‘that you can feel so fascinated and smitten with someone, and then they can become a total stranger. So, I feel like Smitten really summarised perfectly what I felt for others at a certain point.”

Pale Waves have also released the album art for the upcoming record which is said to move away from the pop-punk sound of its predecessor, their third album, Unwanted which was released in February 2021, and lean more into the ‘jangly indie pop sound that takes influence from their home city’ according to the article by NME on the new release.  Their third album was a huge success debuting at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and receiving a score of 72 on Metacritic so the band can only hope for an even greater success with Smitten. You can take a look at the artwork for the upcoming album below.

Pale Waves are currently on tour supporting PVRIS and have an exciting few months ahead as they are currently continue playing shows across the US throughout June and into July. They are also heading back to the city that made them, Manchester, to headline Manchester’s Neighbourhood festival in October alongside a number of other acts including Seb Lowe and The Mysterines. You can buy tickets for the day festival, which spreads itself across a number of iconic Manchester venues, from the following websites; Dice, Ticketmaster, Gigs and Tours and See Tickets. 

You can check out the full track list for the upcoming album, Smitten, below.

1. “Glasgow”
2. “Not a Love Song”
3. “Gravity”
4. “Thinking About You”
5. “Perfume”
6. “Last Train Home”
7. “Kiss Me Again”
8. “Miss America”
9. “Hate to Hurt You”
10. “Seeing Stars”
11. “Imagination”
12. “Slow”

Black Water County release ‘Second Guessing’ featuring guest vocals from Hannah Greenwood of Creeper – the third chapter In a series of singles leading to the release of their third studio album, The Only Life Worth Living.

Watch video – https://t.co/bKPs1N8NaC… pic.twitter.com/qLZQ9eqRAo

— MNPR Magazine (@mnprmagazine) September 8, 2023

The song is the third single to be released by the Bournemouth based Black Water County and will feature on the band’s upcoming album The Only Life Worth Living due to drop in November. After the fast-paced, frenetic energy set by the first two releases, “Cruel State Of Mind” and “The Only Life Worth Living,” “Second Guessing” explores the softer, more emotional side of the band with Greenwood providing the perfect partner for what is a beautiful take on a punk ballad.

Speaking of the duet performed with Byrom, Greenwood said the song “came about very organically when Shan reached out to me a few months ago wondering If I would be keen to feature on one of their new upcoming singles. I loved the song the first time I heard it being a sucker for a ballad. It was fun getting involved and embellishing the harmonies and the outro and also being part of the video. Having worked with Zak Pinchin before I knew the video would be great too!” Discussing the song,

Black Water County added, “‘Second Guessing’ is about closure between two people, in which one leaves with the words of the other echoing in their head….The song dwells on how this sinks in for that person, realising regrets and accepting that life will never be the same.”

New single ‘The Only Life Worth Living’ OUT NOW! #blackwatercounty #NewMusicFriday #music #band #single #NewSingle pic.twitter.com/k2MoAC1QAB — Black Water County (@blckwtrcnty) June 16, 2023

Following the release of The Only Life Worth Living in December, Black Water County will embark on a headlining tour of the UK in support of the album, culminating in a special finale- a hometown show at the Old Fire Station in Bournemouth on 16 December. The band will perform the new album in its entirety with special guests and live orchestral arrangements. The show will be the only date to feature the complete run-through of the album.

Creeper are gearing up for their own new album release with Sanguivore due to be released on 13 October. The band have thus far shared two singles off the record, “Cry To Heaven” and “Teenage Sacrifice.” The band, often labelled as art rock due to their ever changing aesthetic and musical sound, have been attracting scores of new fans who have been intrigued by the incorporation of everything from horror punk to emo and their gothic, vampiric image.

Creeper will also be embarking on a tour of the UK this autumn. Tickets for Black Water County can be found here and for Creeper here. Sanguivore by Creeper can be purchased on presale here. The Only Life Worth Living can be pre-purchased here.

Black Water County UK Tour:

09/11/2023 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
10/11 – Camden Assembly – London
11/11 – Thekla – Bristol
12/11 – Junction – Plymouth
16/11 – Key Club – Leeds
17/11 – Anarchy Brew – Newcastle
18/11 – Audio – Glasgow
16/12 – Old Fire Station – Bournemouth

Creeper UK Tour:

31/10/2023 – Hard Rock Cafe – Newcastle
05/11 – O2 Academy – Bristol
06/11 – Clyde Room – Glasgow
08/11 – Rock City – Nottingham
09/11 – Manchester Academy – Manchester
10/11 – O2 Shepard’s Bush Empire – London