Charlotte Cornfield will release her new album, Hurts Like Hell, on March 27th via Merge Records, ahead of the album’s arrival, the artist has shared a video for the lead single and Title-track (featuring Buck Meek of Big Thief on backing vocals). Cornfield’s debut Merge Records, Hurts Like Hell is the first she’s recorded since the birth of her daughter in 2023.

“This song is about someone getting over deep insecurities and inhibitions and putting themselves out there,” Cornfield explains. “These two characters in the song have clearly experienced a lot of pain and are pushing themselves to move past it and connect with one another. It’s a shy people love story. The pedal steel/full band/country-tinged approach felt fitting for this one, and Buck’s backing vocals really sent it.”

The video was written and directed by friend and fan Scott Jacobson (Bob’s Burgers, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) and stars James Urbaniak (Henry Fool, American Splendour, The Venture Bros.) and Cornfield as sparring neighbors who resolve their differences through choreographed dance.

Cornfield’s change in perspective is evident not only in her approach to the lyric—which now gives voice to characters and themes beyond her own headspace—but in how she approached recording. Hurts Like Hell is her most collaborative effort to date. Decamping to Philip Weinrobe’s (Adrianne Lenker, Lonnie Holley, Billie Marten) Sugar Mountain studio in January 2025, Cornfield was joined by a full backing band, including Palehound’s El Kempner (guitar/vocals), Lake Street Dive’s Bridget Kearney (bass/vocals), Adam Brisbin (guitar/pedal steel), and Sean Mullins (drums), with key contributions by Núria Graham (piano), and Daniel Pencer (saxophone). Cornfield and Weinrobe then recruited Feist, Buck Meek, Christian Lee Hutson and Maia Friedman to sing on the album. “Every musician involved was a dream collaborator,” Cornfield says.

Charlotte Cornfield
Hurts Like Hell
Tracklist

1. Before
2. Hurts Like Hell
3. Lost Leader
4. Lucky
5. Living With It
6. Number
7. Squiddd
8. Kitchen
9. Long Game
10. Bloody and Alive

Charlotte Cornfield 2026 Tour Dates

Tue. March 31 – Brooklyn, NY @ Public Records
Thu. April – 2 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Sat. April 4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble
Thu. April 9 – Toronto, CA @ Lula Lounge

Pre-order Hurts Like Hell by Charlotte Cornfield HERE