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Watchhouse release new single, announce self-titled album

Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse
Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin of WatchhouseShervin Lainez

by Luke Taylor

May 20, 2021

Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz — the musicians who comprise the nucleus of the band Watchhouse, formerly known as Mandolin Orange — released a new single on Thursday along with news that their self-titled album, Watchhouse, is coming Aug. 13, 2021, on Tiptoe Tiger Music / Thirty Tigers.

The single "New Star" follows the April 21 release of the track, "Better Way," which coincided with the band's announcement of its name change.

"New Star" is described by the band as a song about familial solidarity and self-sacrifice. The accompanying music video (above), directed by Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath, captures various moments of community and expression. (The careful viewer will spot, in the video's final scenes, Meath's Sylvan Esso bandmate Nick Sanborn as well as Meath's Mountain Man collaborators Molly Sarlé and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig.)

The album Watchhouse is produced by Andrew Marlin and Josh Kaufman, the latter of whom has produced records for The National and Bonny Light Horseman, and has also played on Taylor Swift's folklore and evermore. Marlin, for his part, has been very busy beyond Watchhouse as well, having released two instrumental albums, Witching Hour and Fable & Fire, earlier this year.

Watchhouse also have announced 2021 and 2022 tour dates, including shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (Sept. 3 and 4); at Red Rocks in Colorado (Oct. 3); and at the Beacon Theatre in New York on April 16, 2022. No Minnesota dates have been announced as yet.

Watchhouse - official site