Bess Atwell unveils new album Light Sleeper, lead track Release Myself


Press photo of Bess Atwell by David Pentecost

Bess Atwell by David Pentecost

Bess Atwell will release it on May 24th.

Bess Atwell has unveiled her new album Light Sleeper with its lead track Release Myself.

“Light Sleeper is about the willingness to feel,” Atwell has said. “While writing the album, I was realising that somewhere along the line I had become very afraid of feeling.”




My approach on Light Sleeper was to give up concern with what’s cool and to reconnect with why I make the things I make. I was afraid to really sing on my previous record, having come to believe it wasn’t cool or would draw attention to the fact that I am indeed an emotional woman and therefore not to be taken as seriously.

“This time, I wanted to really sing, I wanted to discuss my fears and feelings, I wanted to connect, and I wanted to perform like I meant it, because I do. After all, how can I write an album about the willingness to feel and be too afraid to sing like I mean it?”

European touring later this year will include three dates with The National, whose guitarist Aaron Dessner produced the record.



Tour dates:

June
6 Manchester, UK, Band On The Wall
7 London, UK, Union Chapel
8 Bristol, UK, Thekla
25 Vienna, AT, Stadthalle (w/ The National)
27 Bonn, DE, Kunstirasen (w/ The National)

July
11 Edinburgh, UK, Edinburgh Castle (w/ The National)

October
2 Norwich, UK, Arts Centre
3 Cambridge, UK, Junction 2
4 Nottingham, UK, Rescue Rooms
5 Leeds, UK, Belgrave Music Hall
6 Newcastle, UK, The Cluny
8 Glasgow, UK, St. Luke’s
9 Liverpool, UK, Leaf
11 Belfast, UK, The Black Box
12 Dublin, IRE, The Grand Social
15 Cardiff, UK, Clwb Ifor Bach
16 Birmingham, UK, Hare & Hounds
17 Oxford, UK, The Bullingdon
18 Brighton, UK, Concorde 2

February 2025
22 London, UK, KOKO


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