There is no doubt that this year has been great for the music industry, as many artists and bands have raffled off releasing spectacular songs and albums. However, this 2023 we will also have highly anticipated returns, such as that of PJ Harvey, who returns after 7 years with the song “A Child’s Question, August” and the announcement of a new album.
As you will remember, It was in 2016 when the British singer-songwriter released her most recent record material, The Hope Six Demolition Project. Since then, PJ Harvey has dedicated himself to giving a few presentations around the world – including Corona Capital in 2017 – and also released the documentary A Dog Called Moneybut no new music.
PJ Harvey is back with the song “A Child’s Question, August” and the announcement of a new album
However, a few days ago and surprisingly, we found out that PJ Harvey would return with a new song. And after seven years of waiting, this great artist presents us with “A Child’s Question, August”, the first single from her next studio albumwhich will be titled I Inside the Old Year Dying.
To give you an idea, this song lasts almost three minutes, andIt is a beautiful ballad with slight industrial touches where the spectacular voice of PJ Harvey shines completely., which tells us about abandonment and the desire to be loved. And without a doubt, the song left us with a great taste in our mouths with the return of this great singer-songwriter.
PJ Harvey told a little about the inspiration and recording process of ‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’
Talking a bit about I Inside the Old Year Dying and according to Consequence of Sound, PJ Harvey put all the songs on the album together in about three weeks.. But what is striking is that he recorded them live at London’s Battery Studio with longtime collaborator John Parish and producer Flood.
“I think the album is about searching, looking: the intensity of first love and the search for meaning. It’s not like there has to be a message, but the feeling I get from the record is love, it’s full of sadness and loss, but it’s loving. I think that’s what makes it feel so welcoming: so open.”
Said PJ Harvey about the inspiration and feelings that the album conveys to him
Although yes, the process of writing and recording this album were not easy for PJ Harvey. The reason? Well, the British singer says that, after The Hope Six Demolition Project, lost his connection to music, due to the endless cycle that all bands and artists face: writing an album and going on tour.
However, PJ Harvey was finally able to break out of the rut thanks to the advice of filmmaker Steve McQueen, who motivated her to “remember what she loves about words, images and music and put aside the concept of writing ‘an album’ to focus and play with these three passions”. She also said that the fact that she played her favorite songs by Nina Simone and Bob Dylan “reconfirmed her passion for art.”
This is the release date of PJ Harvey’s new album
As if this weren’t enough, PJ Harvey also released the official music video for “A Child’s Question, August”which was directed by the British artist herself together with the photographer and filmmaker, Steve Gullick (who has worked with the likes of Nirvana, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, The Cure, Damon Albarn, Foals and many more).
In this visual, it appears PJ Harvey singing the song while in the background, different images of poems, lyrics and women who inspired her appear, as well as somewhat bleak landscapes that without a doubt, completely transmit the vibe of the song. Below is the video for “A Child’s Question, August”:
Write the date very well in your calendars, because I Inside the Old Year Dyingthe new and tenth album by PJ Harvey will be available on July 7. But while we wait for the day to listen to it in its entirety, you can check out the album’s tracklist below.
- “Prayer at the Gate”
- “Autumn Term”
- “Lwonesome Tonight”
- “Seem an I”
- “The Nether-edge”
- “I Inside the Old Year Dying”
- “All Souls”
- “A Child’s Question, August”
- “I Inside the Old I Dying”
- “August”
- “A Child’s Question, July”
- “A Noiseless Noise”
