credit David Pentecost

Taken form her forthcoming album Light Sleeper, out 24th May 2024 produced by The National’s Aaron Dressner, Bess Atwell has returned with her brand new single Release Myself. Premiered on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6Music show last night the new single sees her step in to her most polished sound to date with another sublime pop perfected effort. Speaking about the forthcoming album ‘Light Sleeper’, she said, “Light Sleeper is about the willingness to feel. While writing the album, I was realising that somewhere along the line I had become very afraid of feeling. The record is about facing this realisation and finding the bravery to challenge it. It’s still hard for me to believe that I got to make this record with one of my heroes, but somehow, I got that lucky. Aaron Dessner posted about one of my songs on Instagram at the beginning of 2022. We got chatting on there and before I knew it, we’d made plans to meet up at All Points East and were discussing making a record together. He told me that Light Sleeper is the first album he’s worked on in several years that he didn’t write, which is a huge honour. My approach on Light Sleeper was to give up concern with what’s cool and to reconnect with why I make the things I make. I was afraid to really sing on my previous record, having come to believe it wasn’t cool or would draw attention to the fact that I am indeed an emotional woman and therefore not to be taken as seriously. This time, I wanted to really sing, I wanted to discuss my fears and feelings, I wanted to connect, and I wanted to perform like I meant it, because I do. After all, how can I write an album about the willingness to feel and be too afraid to sing like I mean it?” The new single comes accompanied by a beguiling new video, shot with Dylan Friese Greene. Take a watch for yourselves below. 

‘Light Sleeper’ Tracklist:
1. Everyone Who’s Not In Love With You Is Wrong
2. Release Myself
3. Sylvester
4. Fan Favourite
5. The Weeping
6. Something Now
7. Spinning Sun
8. I Am Awake
9. Crowds
10. Light Sleeper

Live Dates
06 June | Manchester, UK | Band On The Wall
07 June | London, UK | Union Chapel SOLD OUT

08 June | Bristol, UK | Thekla
25 June | Vienna, AT | Stadthalle w/ The National
27 June | Bonn, DE | Kunstirasen w/ The National
11 July | Edinburgh, UK | Edinburgh Castles w/ The National

02 October | Norwich, UK | Arts Centre
03 October | Cambridge, UK | Junction 2
04 October | Nottingham, UK | Rescue Rooms
05 October | Leeds, UK | Belgrave Music Hall
06 October | Newcastle, UK | The Cluny
08 October | Glasgow, UK | St. Luke’s
09 October | Liverpool, UK | Leaf
11 October | Belfast, UK | The Black Box
12 October | Dublin, IRE | The Grand Social
15 October | Cardiff, UK | Clwb Ifor Bach
16 October | Birmingham, UK | Hare & Hounds
17 October | Oxford, UK | The Bullingdon
18 October | Brighton, UK | Concorde 2

22 February 2025 | London, UK | KOKO

f: https://www.facebook.com/bessatwellmusic