Widowspeak, recently dropped their full-length The Jacket, now available via Captured Tracks. Today, ahead of their North American tour, the NYC the duo share a visualizer for “The Drive”, comprised of road trip footage shot by previous video collaborator OTIUM. Widowspeak begins their headlining US tour next week starting in New York, the tour, includes a run of dates with Clario in Florida and Atlanta, Georgia.

Widowspeak on “The Drive”

“The Drive” is a song about balancing dreams and goals with realities, and questioning the prevalent idea that if you want something enough, you can just make it happen. It’s a little tongue-in-cheek, and it’s written from a place of acceptance more than lamenting anything. Within the original “storyline” of the record, the narrator has to decide if they are willing to sacrifice their integrity for success, and is considering how things might be easier (especially financially) if they did things differently. Of course it became more personal to our perspective, too. I think “The Drive” is about seeing the reward in taking things slow and being guided by your own purpose.

A chain-stitcher working in the satin district of an unnamed city, a neighborhood of storefront tailors devoted to elaborate costumery for country-western, art rock, ye-ye cover bands that populate the street’s bars after dark. The narrator joins one such outfit, “Le Tex” and feels a sense of belonging and momentum, movement beyond what was previously a stable, predictable life. A relationship with a bandmate materializes. Eventually, the group start to write originals. They generate goodwill and momentum, and venture out on the open road seeking new opportunities beyond what the satin district can offer. But the vibrational energy that got things moving is the same that shakes the whole thing apart: the relationship, and the band, disintegrate upon finally reaching their destination, the end of the road. The chain-stitcher heads back to the city, settling back into the rhythm of work, old standards and a familiar place.

The story is self-referential on purpose: it speaks to the absurdity of ego, codependency and shared visions even as it celebrates them. The Jacket finds Widowspeak navigating these contradictions, and although its ten tracks now trace a more abstract arc than the campier initial concept, strands of that earlier narrative remain: “stitches in satin”, American cities after dark, glimpses of the open road, dark bars, and backstages where things get left behind. The resulting album is a wizened meditation on performance and past lives from a band who’ve seen their fair share, hitting their stride now over a decade in.

Widowspeak
The Jacket
Tracklist
Captured Tracks

1. While You Wait
2. Everything Is Simple
3. Salt
4. True Blue
5. The Jacket
6. Unwind
7. The Drive
8. Slow Dance
9. Forget It
10. Sleeper

WIDOWSPEAK 2022 TOUR DATES

4.6.22 – New York, NY – Baby’s All Right
4.7.22 – New York, NY – Baby’s All Right
4.8.22 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
4.9.22 – Washington, DC – Jammin’ Java
4.10.22 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall
4.13.22 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore *
4.14.22 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues *
4.15.22 – Athens, GA – Hendershots
4.16.22 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle *
4.17.22 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle *
4.19.22 – New Orleans, LA – d.b.a
4.20.22 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
4.21.22 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
4.22.22 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
4.23.22 – Ft Worth, TX – Tulips
4.25.22 – Albuquerque, NM – InsideOut
4.26.22 – Tucson, AZ – Groundworks
4.27.22 – Palm Springs, CA – Alibi
4.28.22 – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
4.29.22 – Santa Ana, CA – La Santa
4.30.22 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
5.2.22 – Sacramento, CA – The Starlet Room
5.3.22 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Atrium at The Catalyst
5.4.22 – Oakland, CA – Starline Social Club
5.6.22 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
5.7.22 – Seattle, WA – Belltown Bloom Festival
5.8.22 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
5.9.22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Hangar House
5.10.22 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
5.12.22 – Des Monies, IA – xBk
5.14.22 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
5.15.22 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern

* w/ Clairo

Order The Jacket by Widowspeak HERE