James Vincent McMorrow Shares New Single “Give Up”
April 5, 2024 BY Bailey Vigliaturo
Today, Irish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Vincent McMorrow shares his new single “Give Up,” off his forthcoming studio album, Wide Open, Horses, slated for June 14 release. He also announces a North American headline tour this summer.
The new single “Give Up” unfolds as a very special duet. James and his daughter Margot lock into a disarmingly catchy chant of “Everybody’s sad.”
“I never would put my daughter on a song, unless it was completely driven by her,” he notes. “She just started repeating the line. It was funny and impressive. At the first two shows, it was easily the song of the night at. I think we’re all sad. I can say I’ve spent my whole life staring at the sky and trying to find meaning, but I’m being aware of it at this point.”
In 2023, McMorrow brought Wide Open, Horses to life—on stage. He booked two nights at The National Concert Hall in Dublin, recorded a handful of lo-fi demos, practiced the material for a week, and then hit the stage. Phones weren’t allowed, but James recorded it to “see what worked and what didn’t work.”
“I literally performed the album before it was recorded,” he explains. “The whole point was to expose the flaws and also highlight the special little moments. It was an odd experiment, but it worked great. The notion is so simple, ‘Write songs and perform them live’. Without cameras, they were the best shows I’ve ever played—which is interesting because no one knew the music! Everyone was just experiencing it though. I had friends in the lobby talking to strangers. Who talks to strangers anymore? It was lovely. It was a heartening experience for everyone involved.”
Galvanized by this energy, he hit the studio and assembled Wide Open, Horses. The opener and single “Never Gone” hinges on a finger-picked guitar, soft tambourine, and steady handclaps. Fans previewed the track earlier this week with a live video of McMorrow performing the track in the wilderness.
“It’s the anchor of the record,” he notes. “It sums up the whole album; you’re just trying to fight meaninglessness. I always felt like I’ve been trying to find meaning so I could be remembered. When you don’t find it, it doesn’t feel good. I got to a point where I was like, ‘I fucking love this. I don’t care. If my friends, family, and people who know me as a musician love it, then I’m happy’. I regretted missing so many beautiful moments, because I’d get off stage like, ‘What’s the next opportunity?’ I’ve come to terms with the fact that when I die, I’ll be forgotten, and it’s okay. We all will. It felt ridiculous to fight it. Embracing it was very freeing. ‘Never Gone’ is just about appreciating what’s here for you in the moment.
James Vincent McMorrow sounds alive on Wide Open, Horses. Stay tuned to hear more music ahead of the release…
North America:
July 15: Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
July 16: San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
July 18: Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
July 19: Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
July 21: Sidney, Mary Winspear Centre, BC
July 23: Red Bird Brewery, Kelowna, BC
July 24: Edmonton, Myer Horowitz Theatre
Tickets are on sale HERE
1. Never gone
2. Look up!!!
3. No One Get’s What They Wanted
4. Stay Cool
5. Wide Open, Horses
6. The Day All The Lights Went Out
7. Give Up
8. The Standard
9. Things We Tell Ourselves
10. White Out
11. Darkest Days Of Winter
12. Call Me Back
13. Meet Me In The Garden
