Heartless Bastards share new single “You Never Know” + video, out now | First album in 5 years out in Sept + Fall 2021 tour

Acclaimed rock ‘n’ roll band Heartless Bastards have announced today’s premiere of “You Never Know,” the latest single from their eagerly awaited new album, A Beautiful Life. The new song comes with a cinematic and aesthetically pleasing video, complete with a love story, a zebra and expressive face paint. On the fresh offering from the forthcoming LP, Heartless Bastards frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom says:

“When I wrote “You Never Know,” I imagined it being in “Moonrise Kingdom,” the Wes Anderson film, even though the movie has already been made. There’s a sense of adventure and innocence that youth embodies whether it’s with love or goals and dreams. This song is a reminder to stay open. Life is short. Take chances.”

WATCH “YOU NEVER KNOW” VIDEO HERE | LISTEN HERE

“Photograph,” the previously released single is all about “building bridges,” according to Wennerstrom. The way in which people approach each other is the core message and if love is chosen as a form of contact, and grace is given with spaciousness for growth, there’s real magic that can happen in relationships — and of course, a lot of healing. Vulnerability is the key.

LISTEN TO “PHOTOGRAPH”

Heartless Bastards’ sixth studio album and first new music in more than half a decade, A Beautiful Life arrives via Sweet Unknown Records/Thirty Tigers on Friday, September 10; pre-orders are available now, including a limited edition hand-poured double LP and special merchandise available exclusively from the Sweet Unknown Records Official Store.

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

LIMITED EDITION VINYL AND EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE ARE AVAILABLE HERE

A Beautiful Life was heralded last month with the soulful new single, “How Low,” available now at all DSPs and streaming services; an official music video – directed by documentary filmmakers Sam Wainwright Douglas and David Hartstein – is streaming via YouTube. “How Low” was met by instant acclaim, with Rolling Stone declaring it to be “a satisfying summer song — with a deeper message in its lyrics,” further noting how the song’s companion video “juxtaposes the vacuous Instagram life with images of poverty, natural disaster, and ultimately acts of kindness.“

LISTEN TO “HOW LOW”

WATCH “HOW LOW”

A Beautiful Life once again sees Heartless Bastards founder Erika Wennerstrom alchemizing her idealism into viscerally potent rock ‘n ‘roll. Co-produced by Wennerstrom and Kevin Ratterman (Strand Of Oaks, Jim James, White Reaper), the album – which follows 2015’s Restless Ones – finds the Austin, TX-based singer-songwriter backed by a powerhouse lineup comprising guitarist Lauren Gurgiolo (Okkervil River), drummer Greggory Clifford (White Denim), multi-instrumentalist Jesse Chandler (Mercury Rev, Midlake), keyboardist Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket), guitarist David Pulkingham (Patty Griffin), and longtime Heartless Bastards bassist Jesse Ebaugh.

Though Wennerstrom first considered releasing A Beautiful Life under her own name as the follow-up to her widely praised 2018 solo debut, Sweet Unknown, she ultimately came to view the new album as a continuation of the journey begun on Heartless Bastards’ milestone 2005 debut, Stairs and Elevators. Indeed, with its coalescence of so many eclectic touchstones – from French pop and Celtic folk to space rock, Disney scores, and post-punk – A Beautiful Life stands tall as Heartless Bastards’ most elaborately realized work to date. Songs such as the sprawling, psychedelic epic, “Photograph” and the rambling folk of “The River” (the latter featuring contributions from such singular musicians as Andrew Bird and Persian setar virtuoso Fared Shafinury) channel Wennerstrom’s nuanced observations into glorious music that incites contemplation, catharsis, and a joyful sense of defiance.

“For me music is a gift,” says Wennerstrom. “I do it because I love it, and because it helps me feel more connected to the world. I think we all long for a deep connection, and I hope this record adds to the conversation on how we as a species can stop seeing ourselves as separate. I hope it helps everyone to think about how we can look out for each other, take care of each other, and lift each other up.“

A Beautiful Life also includes Heartless Bastards’ 2020 single, “Revolution,” available now on all digital platforms. An official music video – also directed by Sam Wainwright Douglas and David Hartstein – is streaming now at YouTube HERE.

LISTEN TO “REVOLUTION”

WATCH “REVOLUTION”

Building upon the amazing night they had at the Mohawk, Heartless Bastards have now announced a weekly residency in Austin for the month of August. “It’s been a rough year and a half for venues and we thought supporting some of our local spots would be a great way to warm up for tour,” says Wennerstrom. “We’ll be playing every Friday at C-Boys, and every Saturday at The Continental accompanied by some of our dear friends. With preparing to release the bands sixth record we have no shortage of material to make each night unique, and it’s been just as much fun to revisit the old material as it will be to share with you the new record. After 2020 it’s been hard to even put into words the gratitude we all have for the opportunity to perform music again, and it’s something we don’t want to ever take for granted.” For updates and ticket availability, please visit www.theheartlessbastards.com/tour.

HEARTLESS BASTARDS TOUR 2021

AUGUST AUSTIN, TX RESIDENCY

20 – C Boys – w/ Joseph M

21 – The Continental Club w/ Marmalakes

27- C Boys – w/ Little Mazarn

28 – The Continental Club – w/ Ghost Wolves

SEPTEMBER

16 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz

17 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note

18 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway Nightclub

19– Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley Lightning 100 Sunday Show

22 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe

23 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre

24 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall

25 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater

27 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Small’s Theatre

29 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

30 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

OCTOBER

1– Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live Downstairs

2 – Washington, DC – Union Stage

4 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle

5 – Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar

7 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater

8 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Festival

9 – Kerrville, TX – Kerrville Folk Festival

29 – New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall

30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre

31 – Santa Fe, NM – Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery

NOVEMBER

1 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole

3 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern

4 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour

5 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent

6 – Oakland, CA – Starline Social Club Ballroom

8 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub

9 – Arcata, CA – Arcata Theatre Lounge

11 – Eugene, OR – Sessions Music Hall

12 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom

13 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile

14 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma

15 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM

17 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room

19 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre

20 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

21 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre

24 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater