Lauren Mayberry, frontwoman of the Scottish electro-pop outfit Chvrches, slows things down on her first solo single. Released today (September 1), “Are You Awake?” finds the multi-talented 35-year-old exploring new sonic territory.
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“‘Are You Awake?’ is a song that started on a rainy day last December with Tobias Jesso Jr.,” Mayberry says in a statement. “I was thinking a lot about loneliness and homesickness, and as soon as Tobias started playing the chords, the lyrics and melody came to me really quickly. I finished the song with my friend Matthew Koma, who really understood what I was trying to say.”
Driven by rich piano, performed by Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, and Mayberry’s sweet yet longing vocals, “Are You Awake?” is a moving showcase of artistic versatility.
“For a long time, I couldn’t imagine doing anything outside of Chvrches, but I think some things that I needed to write had to be done from purely my own point of view,” Mayberry continues. “I never really thought I’d write a piano ballad or a solo album full stop, so life really is full of surprises. I am really looking forward to this chapter and can’t wait for people to hear more of the music.”
[RELATED: Behind the Band Name: Chvrches]
The release of “Are You Awake?” comes days before Mayberry hits the road to support Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service’s upcoming co-headlining tour. Ahead of the trek, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the bands’ influential albums Transatlanticism and Give Up, Death Cab for Cutie recruited Mayberry for a remix of their most recent single, “An Arrow In the Wall.”
Later this month, she’ll embark on a brief solo headlining tour that stops at select cities across the U.S. before heading to Europe until the end of October. Find a complete list of upcoming tour dates and additional ticketing information at Mayberry’s official website.
Listen to “Are You Awake?” below.
(Photo by Scarlett Casciello, Courtesy of Universal Music Group)
