Will Butler (formerly of Arcade Fire) and his band Sister Squares released a self-titled album last year, and they’ve followed it with a new single, “Burn It Away,” an anthemic synth-pop track. “I wanted to make an open-hearted song about destroying the world, about despair in the face of trying your best to find hope,” Will says. “There’s a lyric that got cut about thinking you see the sun rise but it’s just the forest fires burning over the horizon. But I think music is intrinsically hopeful—always implicitly arguing in favor of creation—so maybe the song balances itself out.” Hear it below.
Will has also been busy lately with Stereophonic, the play he wrote the music for, which is on Broadway through January 5. He was nominated for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) for his work, which he lost to Shaina Taub for Suffs, but Stereophonic did take home five Tonys, making it the year’s most decorated production. You can get tickets now.
Next up for Will is a tour with Sister Squares of the UK and Europe, which starts on Saturday (7/13) and runs through the end of the month. See all dates below. Ahead of that, he also talked to Grub Street about what he’s been eating and drinking lately for their Grub Street Diet series, shouting out Kensington’s Korner Pizza and Koha Brothers and Boreum Hill’s Sottocasa and Malai, among other places in Brooklyn.
WILL BUTLER & SISTER SQUARES: 2024 TOUR DATES
Jul 13 Nijmegen, NL – Valkhof Festival
Jul 14 Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg
Jul 16 London, UK – Moth Club
Jul 18 Sesimbra, PT – Super Bock Super Rock
Jul 19-20 Riga, LV – Positivus Festival
Jul 23 Galway, IE – Galway International Arts Festival
Jul 24 Dublin, IE – Grand Social
Jul 27 Benidorm, ES – Low Festival