Pale Waves confirmed the release date for She’s My Religion via social media. In a post to Instagram late last night (December 11th), the indie-pop quartet shared the single’s cover art, along with the caption: “She’s My Religion – Tuesday!”

Pale Waves also revealed what seems to be some lyrics from the forthcoming track, writing “She’s cold/She’s dark/She’s cynical”. The post elicited some serious excitement from fans, receiving over 10,000 likes. One fan commented playfully: “We have been waiting a long time for this!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PALE WAVES (@palewaves)

This is not the first time Pale Waves has teased She’s My Religion. Frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie hinted towards the single on Twitter back in May, sharing a short demo along with the status: “I just want new pw music to come out to be honest.”

She’s My Religion will be taken from Pale Waves’ forthcoming album, Who Am I? Pale Waves’ sophomore record, Who Am I? will follow their debut album My Mind Makes Noise, which came out back in 2018. 

Scheduled for arrival early next year, Pale Waves will premiere Who Am I? on February 12th, 2021, via Dirty Hit Records. An eleven track album, Who Am I? will contain the songs I Just Needed You, Fall to Pieces, Tomorrow and Change. 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PALE WAVES (@palewaves)

In an official press release, Pale Waves said that Who Am I? will serve “as the Pale Waves manifesto – inspiring inclusivity, self-discovery, and the notion of being whoever the hell you want to be”. The Television Romance singers revealed that the albums’ lyricism will explore Heather Baron-Gracies’ personal experiences with mental health and depression. 

Baron-Gracie spoke on how Who Am I? helped Baron-Gracie come to terms with her own self acceptance. Baron-Gracie said that since wrapping the album: “I’ve stepped onto a path of wanting to explore myself and I feel confident in myself and proud to own my sexuality. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Last month, Pale Waves shared a sonic gem from Who Am I?, Change. Pale Waves released Change on November 11th. 

Change is a wistful indie bop all about heartache. Although it has a light, upbeat backing track, Baron-Gracies’ lyrics reflect a person burnt by love, yet still wishing for a different outcome. Baron-Gracie sings the relatable lyrics: “I remember it like it was yesterday/My mother didn’t prepare me for this heartache” and “I keep wishing you would change/It’s no surprise you’re still the same.”

Pale Waves dropped the Change music video on YouTube in accordance with their release, which has garnered a whopping 362,000 views. The band jam out in a woodland forest, whilst Baron-Gracie shreds the guitar and sings: “I’m being so irrational, don’t know what to do/Just trying my best to get over you/I sat in the shower couldn’t leave for a few hours/’Cause I let you back in, now I’m crawling out my skin”

She’s My Religion will come out on December 15th. The official tracklisting for Who Am I? can be found below: 

1. Change
2. Fall To Pieces
3. She’s My Religion
4. Easy
5. Wish U Were Here
6. Tomorrow
7. You Don’t Own Me
8. I Just Needed You
9. Odd Ones Out
10. Run To
11. Who Am I?

In a post to Instagram yesterday, Baron-Gracie shared a snap of herself, writing excitedly in the caption: “pale waves news tomorrow…. Finally”. The post has provoked a joyous response from fans, receiving over 18,000 likes. One excited fan wrote, “I can’t wait! This has saved 2020.”

Meanwhile, Pale Waves mysteriously deleted the entirety of their Instagram portfolio. This is a common hint that artists make when indicating towards new material, so fans can rest assured that some Pale Waves music is in fact on the way.

View this post on Instagram

pale waves news tomorrow…. finally

A post shared by HBG (@heatherbarongracie) on Nov 1, 2020 at 9:37am PST

Pale Waves’ impending new single will be the first piece of music since their stunning debut album, My Mind Makes Noise. Released back in September of 2018, My Mind Makes Noises contains songs like Eighteen, There’s A Honey, and Loveless Girl.

NME said of the amazing debut: ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ is an album that obsesses over break-ups and make-ups, as well as dizzy affairs and their bitter fallouts – purposefully telling the story from all different angles. It’s the perfect record to summarise the band’s rise from Manchester’s little secret to one of the most adored new bands in the country.”

In a statement to NME last month, Heather Baron-Gracie confirmed that their second studio album is finished. When asked about their sophomore album, Baron-Gracie confirmed that the follow up to My Mind Makes Noise “is just chilling on a hard drive somewhere.” 

Despite Baron-Gracie announcing a new and completed Pale Waves album, the name, tracklisting, and most importantly, the release date, remains unconfirmed. Back in May, Pale Waves premiered a demo of a new song, which could possibly feature on Pale Waves’ second album.

Entitled She’s My Religion, Baron-Gracie shared the demo to Twitter, writing to her followers that she “just wants some new PW music to come out tbh.” Baron Gracie said of She’s My Religion that the song is “a gay anthem.”

Earlier this year, Pale Waves teamed up with composer Lawrence Rothman for the moving song, SkindeepSkyhighHeartwide which was a part of the soundtrack for the horror film The Turning, which was released on January 23rd. 

The end of 2020 was supposed to be an exciting time for Pale Waves. The Mancunian quartet were planning to headline Live At Leeds on November 28th, before it was unfortunately cancelled. Live at Leeds is an eclectic music festival that was established in 2007. Additional acts that were supposed to play Live At Leeds this year were Easy Life and Shame.

View this post on Instagram

I told you she’s no angel

A post shared by HBG (@heatherbarongracie) on Oct 31, 2020 at 5:41pm PDT

Pale Waves were formed in Manchester in 2014 after meeting at University. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie, drummer Ciara Doran, lead guitarist Hugo Silvani and keyboardist and bassist Charlie Wood.

Pale Waves dropped their debut EP, All The Things I Never Said, in 2018. The brilliant EP contains tracks like My Obsession, Heavenly, and New Year’s Eve.

The new Pale Waves song will be out later tonight.

Organisers of the event made the tough decision to cancel Live At Leeds to align with the new UK government guidelines concerning the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The headline act planned for Live At Leeds 2020 was Mancunian indie-pop band Pale Waves.

View this post on Instagram

Statement regarding Live at Leeds 2020

A post shared by Live At Leeds Festival (@liveatleedsfest) on Sep 23, 2020 at 4:00am PDT

Additional bands confirmed for Live at Leeds were Brighton band The Magic Gang, alternative group Easy Life and rock band Shame. The Coral and American musician Ezra Furman were also set to play the city festival, where they would each deliver performances from various Leeds music venues.

Within a sorrowful but necessary statement, founders of Live At Leeds said “It may not come as a great surprise, but it will not be possible to go ahead with Live at Leeds 2020 as planned.”

The statement continued with “We’d hoped by moving the festival to the end of the year we stood the best chance we had of going ahead, but with the current guidance it’s now clear that won’t be possible, and certainly wouldn’t be the Live at Leeds experience we’ve all grown to enjoy.”

Organisers of the event also pleaded with music fans to maintain their ongoing support for record stores, music festivals and independent artists, stressing urgently that “they need your support now more than ever.” 

Live At Leeds concluded their statement with a reiteration of the group’s ethos:“Live at Leeds is a labour of love. We run this event to introduce music fans to new talent, to bring people to our city and to support the venues, staff and talented freelancers that operate throughout Leeds.”  The full statement can be accessed here. 

In regards to the event’s return, founders have confirmed that Live At Leeds will commence sometime in 2021. Ticket holders will be able to claim refunds at the point of purchase, as stated on the Live At Leeds official website.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#LiveatLeeds 2015 Alumni, Wakefield indie heroes @thecribs return to #Yorkshire in June 2021 for a special outdoor summer headline show live at @thepiecehall Halifax! Tickets go on-sale tomorrow at 9am from lunatickets.co.uk – don’t miss it! A post shared by Live At Leeds Festival (@liveatleedsfest) on Aug 27, 2020 at 8:14am PDT

Live At Leeds was established in 2007. Founded to mark the city’s 800th birthday milestone, the music event partnered with both music promotion company Futuresound and Leeds City Council for over a decade. Featured film industries, music industry seminars and around 50 bands playing live in and around the city centre, Live At Leeds has something for every music lover!

In other news, Shame recently shared their comeback single, Alphabet. Manic and punky, Alphabet was released on September 10th. Shame also announced news of a comeback show recently, confirming they will perform at the Electric Brixton in London on April 22nd, 2021.