Photo by Dylan Reyes
Lilly Hiatt will return with Lately on October 15th via New West Records. The 10-song set was co-produced by Lilly and her drummer Kate Haldrup at Death Ladder in East Nashville, TN. In celebration of “Cassette Week,” the cassette version of the album will be released a week early on Friday, October 8th. Lately is the follow up to Hiatt’s critically acclaimed Walking Proof, which was among the first records released to feel the full wrath of the soon-to-be raging pandemic that would bring the world to its knees. Despite the timing of its release, the long player was named a “Best Album of the Year” by Rolling Stone, No Depression, Magnet Magazine, Slant Magazine and more. NPR Music called Lilly “…one of the great 21st Century Southern Rockers,” saying, “…she’s a striving, self-made heroine of country-accented indie rock” while Rolling Stone said “Hiatt proves herself to be Nashville’s indie-rocker-to-watch on this collection of Big Star-worthy jangle anthems and introspective psych-folk.” Rolling Stone Country called the album “…exhilarating…” saying, “At once electrifying and dreamy, the follow-up to Hiatt’s breakout Trinity Lane cements her as a vital voice.” Pitchfork said, “…Walking Proof winds through moments of incandescent joy, gentleness, cathartic noise, and even unease…It’s as if Hiatt has emerged from a dark, uncertain period as a stronger, bolder artist, winding up with an album that encompasses a full spectrum of feeling as it rocks with abandon” while Paste Magazine said in their 8 out of 10 star review, “This is music to liberate yourself to.”
As each day passed following the release of Walking Proof, more events were postponed, moved, and ultimately canceled. The sudden stillness forced Lilly to take a long, deep look inside and despite having a new album just released, she went back to doing what she does best: she picked up the guitar and started to write. What could have been devastating ended up being therapeutic, and Lilly learned how to find fulfillment in quieter places versus the adrenalized life she was used to.
Today, SPIN has shared the video for the album highlight “Been,” alongside a feature with Lilly about Lately’s creation. The video was directed by Lilly and is composed of vintage super 8 film footage she found in the Hiatt Family storage.
Lilly says, “Last year was tough. That’s an understatement for certain. Tears were shed, lives were lost, and lonely was a way of life. I have always felt lonely, but never gone to the depths of solitude that I had in 2020. The irony of that is, I was not alone at all in that space. Everyone had lost something, and we all were trying to rebuild our lives as we knew them. As a means of keeping sane, I started to write songs. Some of them sucked. I kept doing it though, because I had nothing else to fill my cup.” She continues, “Depression was a big part of fall and winter. I forgot how down I could feel. But I also felt hope in that light that came from a memory of a past adventure or a stranger’s smile while walking down the street. Little things lifted my spirits. I missed my friends. I missed my family. I was devastated by the grief our country was facing, as well as the world. I felt unified in knowing that I was not on my own in that mentality. Many were questioning a lot of what was happening and though ideologies and understandings were fractured and opposing, most people I know craved to be together again. I realized that my heart was full of everything I loved and that would carry me forward for the time being. Eventually we would all get back to one another.”
And get back together we have begun to do. Following two dates supporting Deer Tick next week, Americanafest in Nashville, TN on September 25th, and an appearance on Mountain Stage on October 3rd, Lilly will launch a North American tour with Lydia Loveless on October 20th in Houston, TX. The tour will keep the duo on the road throughout most of November and will feature stops at the Continental Club in Austin, The Chapel in San Francisco, a two night stand at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, and more. Additional 2021 headline dates in support of Lately have also been announced as well. Please see all dates below.
By opening up about her fears and anxiety and having taken a big step back, Lilly Hiatt learned more about herself than she could have ever realized. Which is what great songwriters do.
Lilly Hiatt’s Lately will be available across digital platforms and on cassette. Lately is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.
Lilly Hiatt On Tour:
September 15, 2021 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theater ~
September 16, 2021 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag ~
September 25, 2021 – Nashville, TN – Basement East (AmericanaFest)
October 2, 2021 – Charleston, WV – Culture Center Theater (Mountain Stage)
October 20, 2021 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater *
October 21, 2021 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger *
October 23, 2021 – Austin, TX – Continental Club *
October 24, 2021 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater *
October 26, 2021 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress *
October 27, 2021 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern *
October 28, 2021 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room *
October 29, 2021 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel *
October 30, 2021 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post *
November 3, 2021 – Bend, OR – Tower Theatre *
November 4, 2021 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge *
November 5, 2021 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern *
November 6, 2021 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern *
November 8, 2021 – Boise, ID – The Olympic *
November 10, 2021 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall *
November 11, 2021 – Denver, CO Globe Hall *
November 13, 2021 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway *
November 14, 2021 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley *
December 10, 2021 – Bristol, VA – The Cameo Theater
February 10, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
February 11, 2022 – Charlotte, NC – Free Range Brewery
February 12, 2022 – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House Raleigh
February 14, 2022 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
February 15, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
February 17, 2022 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
February 18, 2022 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
February 19, 2022 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East Upstairs
February 20, 2022 – Northampton, MA – Parlor Room @ Signature Sounds
February 22, 2022 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
February 23, 2022 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Cafe
February 24, 2022 – Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi
February 25, 2022 – Newport, KY – The Southgate House Revival (Revival Room)
February 26, 2022 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern
~ With Deer Tick
* With Lydia Loveless
