May 5, 2023 – Today, New York City native and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Emily King releases Special Occasion via ATO Records. Across eleven dynamic tracks, including “This Year,” “Medal,” “False Start” (a collaboration with Nick Hakim), “Bad Memory” (featuring Lukas Nelson)”, and “The Way That You Love Me” (in collaboration with Rob Moose), King shows off her “smart, catchy songs that blend soul, R&B and pop” (WNYC Soundcheck). Featuring production by longtime collaborator and Grammy-nominee Jeremy Most, Special Occasion is a bold, introspective exploration of love, heartbreak, and forward motion.
“I’ve called this a breakup-to-makeup-to-breakup-again album, but really, it’s about trying to find joy in trying times—trying to celebrate who you are in your quietest moments, rather than in relation to someone else,” King explains. “For me that’s still very much a work-in-progress, but I hope these songs will help people to find some hope and relief.”
Special Occasion is the follow-up to King’s critically-acclaimed Scenery LP and is her first album in four years. The album’s title track highlights King’s songwriting prowess and her ability to dig into life’s deepest sorrows and uncover unexpected beauty, shifting her focus on the little things that make life fun and worth celebrating. Earlier this week she performed “Special Occasion” on Live with Kelly and Mark – you can watch the captivating performance HERE. King also performed the single during a vibrant COLORS x STUDIOS session, which was recorded earlier this year in Berlin. You can watch it HERE. Next Tuesday, fans across the country can catch King on CBS Mornings as she sits down with Anthony Mason for a conversation about the new album.
Coinciding with the album release, King kicks off her North American headlining tour tonight in South Orange, NJ. Over the next few weeks, King, supported by Joseph Solomon, will visit esteemed venues across the country including Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Los Angeles’ Wiltern, New York’s Terminal 5, and more. The tour will conclude on June 1 in Boston.
Last weekend, Philadelphia fans were treated to a taste of the upcoming tour during King’s WXPN Free At Noon concert at World Cafe Live, where she performed several Special Occasion tracks alongside fan favorites from Scenery and The Switch. New York City fans also were treated to a brief performance and Q&A moderated by Louis Cato at the famed Rough Trade.
For complete tour information and tickets, please visit: https://www.emilykingmusic.com.
Special Occasion Tracklist
1. This Year
2. Special Occasion
3. Medal
4. False Start
5. The Way That You Love Me
6. Home Now
7. Bad Memory (Feat. Lukas Nelson)
8. Waterfalls
9. Who Wants My Love
10. Easy
11. Closer To The Morning
2023 North American Tour Dates
Fri, May 5 – South Orange, NJ – South Orange Performing Arts Center
Mon, May 8 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
Tue, May 9 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Thu, May 11- Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Fri, May 12 – Madison, WI – Barrymore
Sat, May 13 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
Tue, May 16 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile
Wed, May 17 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Fri, May 19 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Sat, May 20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Tue, May 23 – Austin, TX – The Paramount
Wed, May 24 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
Fri, May 26 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium +
Sat, May 27 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
Sun, May 28 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Tue, May 30 – Washington, DC – The Howard
Wed, May 31 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
Thursday, June 1 – Boston, MA – The Royale
Special Guests:
Joseph Solomon
Devon Gilfillian +