Pillow Queens Announce New Album “Name Your Sorrow” and Tour Dates
Irish indie rock band Pillow Queens have unveiled their highly-anticipated third studio album, “Name Your Sorrow,” set to release on April 19th via Royal Mountain Records. The band has also shared the lead single, “Gone,” and announced a series of tour dates in the UK this June. Mark your calendars for their biggest show to date on July 13th at Ireland’s Iveagh Gardens in Dublin.
Pillow Queens’ latest album, “Name Your Sorrow,” showcases the band at their most vulnerable and self-assured. Exploring themes of queerness, insecurity, desire, heartbreak, and the encouraging strength that can arise from pain, the quartet takes their artistry and humanity to new heights. Produced by Collin Pastore (known for his work with Lucy Dacus and boygenius) at Analogue Catalogue in Northern Ireland, the album offers a captivating fusion of masterful instrumentation and raw lyricism that immerses listeners in a powerful and emotionally-charged sonic journey.
The twelve tracks on “Name Your Sorrow” delve into various layers of the human condition, capturing the full spectrum of grief, joy, and everything in between. The album culminates in a collective catharsis, instilling a newfound sense of strength and hope in one’s sense of self. Lead guitarist and vocalist Cathy McGuinness describes the album as intense, lonely, and full of love, emphasizing the coexistence of love and loss in a tangled yet beautiful manner.
During the writing process, Pillow Queens drew inspiration from acclaimed Irish poet Eavan Bolan, revered English poet John Keats, and celebrated British writer C.S. Lewis. In terms of musical influences, the band’s eclectic range includes Vampire Weekend, Barbara Streisand, Frank Ocean, Tool, and Lana Del Rey.
The band’s latest single, “Gone,” narrates a torturous tale of ending a collapsing relationship. Its pulsating beat intensifies the uneasiness of the situation. Pillow Queens reflect on the song’s meaning, stating that “Gone” explores the shallowness and monotony of temporary romantic encounters, which can ultimately lead to jadedness.
“Gone” was born during a jam session at a songwriting retreat in The Burren on the West Coast of Ireland. Lead vocalist, guitarist, and bassist Pamela Connolly notes that the lyrics, particularly lines like “I was in your top five things to do,” highlight a lack of self-worth, a theme that permeates the entire album. The song serves as a vulnerable representation of one’s emotions in the present moment, without any silver linings.
Pillow Queens Tour Dates:
JUNE
- 05 – Wardrobe, Leeds, UK
- 06 – The Fleece, Bristol, UK
- 07 – Brixton Electric, London, UK
- 08 – YES (Pink Room), Manchester, UK
- 10 – Cluny, Newcastle, UK
- 11 – Saint Luke’s, Glasgow, UK
JULY
- 13 – Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, IR
For more information on Pillow Queens, please visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.