The Soft Moon returns with the video for “Him”, and along with it, announces the long-running post-punk band’s first new LP in four years. Songwriter Luis Vasquez’s forthcoming fifth studio album Exister came about after a massive move during lockdown: Vasquez left Berlin and transplanted himself to the mystical Joshua Tree, California.
“I always complained that I never had enough freedom to do everything I wanted,” Vasquez says. “This time I literally had everything at my disposal…The whole point of this record was to share every emotion that I feel. No two songs are the same. It’s about existing in the world as a human being and experiencing many emotions and experiences throughout life.”
“Him”, the intense first single from Exister, is a collaboration with musician fish narc.
The video, directed by filmmakers Wiggy and Nick Blanco, shows the band frantically running, being pursued by unseen forces, while navigating through various urban landscapes, and features a wall of televisions that make a charming reference to Bowie’s character in “The Man Who Fell To Earth.” The paranoia of the video plays well with the emotional anguish of the vocals. It’s a solid return for The Soft Moon, very much of its time and brimming with 21st-century Weltschmerz.
“I struggle with ‘good side/bad side’ endlessly,” says Vasquez about the single. “Him recounts that battle, expressing the turmoil it brings into my life.”
You can watch the video for the song, written by Vasquez and mixed and mastered by Maurizio Baggio, below.
Pre-order Exister here. The album comes out on September 23, 2022 via Sacred Bones Records.
The Soft Moon will also be on tour in Europe and North America in the autumn to promote the new album. Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, June 17 at 10 AM. All dates are listed below.
The Soft Moon – 2022 Tour Dates
- Sep 26 Hamburg, DE – U&G
- Sep 27 Berlin, DE – So36
- Sep 28 Leipzig, DE – UT Connewitz
- Sep 29 Cologne, DE – Gebaude9
- Sep 30 Poznan, PL – Próżność
- Oct 01 Warsaw, PL – Praga Centrum
- Oct 02 Krakow, PL – Klub Muzyczny Poczta Główna
- Oct 03 Prague, CZ – Futurum
- Oct 04 Munich, DE – Hansa 39
- Oct 05 Pordenone, IT – Capitol
- Oct 06 Rome, IT – Monk
- Oct 07 Milan, IT – Santeria
- Oct 08 Bologna, IT – Covo
- Oct 10 Toulouse, FR – Le Connexion
- Oct 11 Vigo, ES – Master Club
- Oct 12 Lisbon, PT – LAV room 2
- Oct 13 Madrid, ES – La Casa Encendida
- Oct 14 Zaragoza, ES – Jardín de Invierno
- Oct 15 Barcelona, ES – Nitsa Club (La (2) de Apolo)
- Oct 17 Lyon, FR – Epicerie Moderne
- Oct 18 Zurich, CH – Mascotte Club
- Oct 19 Gent, BE – Handelsbeurs
- Oct 20 Lille, FR – Le Grand Mix
- Oct 21 Luxembourg, LU – Kulturfabrik
- Oct 22 Brussels, BE – Beursschouwburg
- Oct 24 Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso Noord
- Oct 25 Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
- Oct 26 Groningen, NL – VERA
- Oct 27 London, UK – The Garage
- Oct 28 Amiens, FR – La Lune des Pirates
- Oct 29 Paris, FR – Trabendo
- Nov 09 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
- Nov 10 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
- Nov 11 Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
- Nov 12 Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
- Nov 13 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
- Nov 14 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Hell Stage)
- Nov 16 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack’s
- Nov 17 Houston, TX – Numbers
- Nov 18 Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Co
- Nov 19 Austin, TX – Mohawk
- Nov 21 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
- Nov 25 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
- Nov 26 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
- Nov 29 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
- Nov 30 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
- Dec 01 Seattle, WA – Neumos
- Dec 02 Boise, ID – The Olympic
- Dec 03 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
- Dec 04 Denver, CO – The Oriental Theatre
- Dec 06 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
- Dec 07 Chicago, IL – Metro
- Dec 08 Detroit, MI – El Club
- Dec 09 Toronto, ON – The Opera House
- Dec 10 Montreal, QC – S.A.T.
- Dec 11 Boston, MA – The Sinclair
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