The Ballroom Thieves To Release New Album ‘Clouds’ On July 15 + Announce North American Dates With Darlingside and Lady Lamb; Listen To “Worldender” Here
March 2, 2022 BY Penny Palmer
The Ballroom Thieves continue to write and share music at a feverish pace. After a major car accident and the departure of a band member, the duo – Calin Peters (vocals, cello, bass), Martin Earley (vocals, guitar) – have found endless sources of inspiration. On July 15, the prolific pair will release Clouds, a lush meditation on longing to return to touring (“to see different sunsets, roads“), but also a reflection of its difficulties (insomnia brought on by sleeping in different hotel rooms every night).
The Ballroom Thieves have always been adept at pairing lush harmonies and melodies over dark lyrics. The new tracks are no different. And, the more they leaned into their wanderlust, the more themes became apparent – the idea of a life spent in motion (“Shine“), the power of the storm representing a relationship transformed into heartbreak (“The Lightning“), Man’s ceaseless degradation of resources and Nature’s inevitable fury (“Worldender” – out today), and the “little rain cloud inside our heads” (“Borderline“).
The duo wrote “Worldender” about a trip from Washington State to Los Angeles during devastating wildfires that stretched from Canada to Mexico. Through hundreds of miles of smoke, power outages, closed towns, and evacuation mandates, the band was rerouted. “In the fall of 2019, we finished a west coast tour in Seattle, waved goodbye to our band and crew as they flew back home, and started driving back to LA to return the rental van and gear. Even though we had spent weeks driving up the same coast, we were excited to have the freedom to explore parts of the region that a full schedule of shows wouldn’t usually allow us to visit. Unfortunately, our drive coincided with forest fires that had broken out all along the west coast. It was a somber look at the lack of care we’ve shown to the Earth. ‘Worldender’ is the story of that trip,” says the duo.
Listen To “Worldender” HERE:
Clouds also became an opportunity to let listeners in on the intimacy of the recording process. Most songs began with Earley and Peters writing together. And for the first time, the album features songs recorded live in the hope of bringing fans directly into the room.
“We got to step away from a lot of the big three-part harmonies. This albumisan intimate glimpse into our world as a duo,” says Earley. “This is an exciting and new sonic direction for us. And like most things, it’s those types of challenges that inspire us.”
It’s an artistic statement that doubles as a life mission. Both members of The Ballroom Thieves emphasize that they’ve learned to take on anything, including their struggles with depression, which often colors their songs. If they can impart anything to listeners, mental struggles are not a weakness—and sharing any of life’s trials can be a source of strength.
“There’s so much material out there on fighting mental illnesses and keeping our heads up, but I think it’s also just important to know that it’s okay to be affected. The human experience can be ugly and difficult, and it’s okay to feel things deeply,” says Peters. “Not every day has to be seized.”
It’s their unique brand of powerful and harmonious music, while never shying away from topics and ideas they are passionate about, that has charmed fans around the country. Their catalog has amassed over 90+ million streams, garnered key support from the press (Rolling Stone, NPR Music, The Washington Post, American Songwriter, Consequence Of Sound, Paste) and radio (WBUR, WGBH, WETS, WMOT, Maine Public Radio, WCLX, WCLZ), and gained a loyal live following, with sold-out shows and festival spots at Boston Calling, Newport Folk, and Calgary Folk.
On March 10, join The Ballroom Thieves for From the Cloud, a livestream performance of fan favorites and previously unreleased tracks, alongside an interview with local music writer Aimsel Ponti (click HERE for ticket information). On March 18, the band will kick off a nationwide tour that will take the duo around the country with friends and collaborators like Lady Lamb and Darlingside. Full dates are below.
“Worldender” is available at all digital retailers; click HERE.
Tour Dates:
* With Sway Wild
** With Lady Lamb, Riddy Arman
+ With Darlingside
March 18 Gardiner, ME @ Johnson Hall Theater
March 26 Northampton, MA @ Parlor Room (duo show)
April 8 Bangor, ME @ Bangor Arts Exchange
April 14 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre*
April 16 Boise, ID @ The Olympic Venue *
April 17 Spokane, WA @ Lucky You Lounge (8PM) *
April 21 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile **
April 22 Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theatre Pub **
April 23 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (8PM) **
April 24 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (8PM) **
April 26 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall (7PM) **
April 27 Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park (7PM) **
April 28 San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues (7PM) **
April 29 Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar (7PM) **
April 30 Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole (7PM) **
May 6 Fairfield, CT @ The Warehouse at FTC (7PM) +
May 7 Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre (7PM) +
May 8 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (7PM) +
May 20 Avon, NC @ E-Hutch Weekend 2022 (7PM – duo show)
Track List:
1. Worldender
2. The Lightning
3. Shadow
4. Pour Down
5. I Lose
6. In the Morning
7. Trodden
8. Harry Styles
9. Borderline
10. Shine
