Still Smitten: Pale Waves On Touring, Changing Meanings and Their Next Step
Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Written by Laura Mills
Photo: @shotbykelsi
Released last autumn, ‘Smitten’ was something of a reset for Pale Waves, bringing back their earlier blend of guitar jangle and synth-pop, this time complete with effortless polish. The Mancunian band are about to hit the road for another round of touring behind their fourth LP, visiting compact rooms throughout October that will amp up its emotional flourishes.
“I think it’s going to be a lot more intimate,” vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie tells us. “A lot more engaging with the crowd, less of a show. More like stripped back rock ‘n’ roll, not a load of two minute musical interludes. A lot of these venues are smaller than what we’re used to playing so we’re really gonna play on that and enjoy the feeling that there’s no wall between us. You’re close to the crowd.”
What made you relaunch touring on ‘Smitten’?
“We felt like we invested so much time into making ‘Smitten’ and only playing 12 shows in the UK wasn’t long enough for the record to be seen and heard. We wanted to play more shows and more songs off ‘Smitten’, and give it more time, basically, so we decided to give it another run but with smaller venues and stranger places.”
With the fact you toured this album last year, do you think any of the songs’ meanings have changed for you?
“We’ve only played half of the record live, on this next tour we’ll definitely be playing more. It is interesting when you write and record a song to then go into playing it live — it does create a new sense of feeling for that track. I think Kiss Me Again is a really fun song and everyone in the crowd really tends to have a fun moment when they hear that — I’d say that’s become a lot more playful for me.”
That makes a lot of sense. I think you touched a bit on this, but on the live front have these new songs altered your approach to performing?
“I think the ‘Smitten’ tracks are definitely more theatrical and more dramatic, so I did adapt the way I am on stage. Versus [2022 album] ‘Unwanted’, that was very upbeat and in your face, very upfront. I feel like ‘Smitten’ is a lot more elegant and romantic, and feminine.
‘Smitten’ suggests a kind of innocent or unguarded affection. What does it mean to you now? I know you wrote the album focusing on your younger years.
“I was definitely touching upon that time in my life, but to me ‘Smitten’ covers up until now. I went through so many different names when thinking about the record. I landed on ‘Smitten’, and I kind of got that feeling. I always go, ‘I’ve got a feeling.’ It felt very timeless and elegant, and that’s what the whole campaign was about. I also wanted a title that isn’t in a song because we’ve always done that.”
Will fans see any new stage design elements or surprises at these shows?
“Definitely. I can’t give it away but there’ll be some surprises. There are going to be some tracks on there for the hardcore people who have been with us since day one. I’m sure they’re going to be happy with the setlist.”
How have you approached building that setlist when your discography spans multiple sounds and moods?
“We’ve not 100% finalised it yet. We’re almost struggling because there are so many tracks that we could pick. We might switch it up each night, so it might not be the same set every single show. It’s definitely trickier to choose, especially when you’re on your fourth album. There are some songs that I will absolutely not play just because I just don’t want to.”
Interesting. Any come to mind?
Loveless Girl — we’ve tried rehearsing that and it sounds bad. It’s one of those tracks that’s meant to be recorded and that’s it. It sounded really weird when we tried it, but then there are some songs I really adore that I’ll probably always keep on there, like Jealousy or She’s My Religion, because that’s like a classic. Everyone always lets me get my own way with the setlist. We might play My Obsession, The Tide, Heavenly — you’ve got to look at it like a mood, you know? These songs work together, these songs absolutely don’t go together. It is like composing how a play is going to run.”
I noticed you have covered The Cranberries’ Zombie at recent shows.
“I think we probably will do it on the tour. I like to pretend that I’m Dolores [O’Riordan] for a minute, she was such a badass.”
Have you written or tested any new material on this tour? Any hints about the next chapter for Pale Waves?
“We talked about [doing] one in rehearsals, but it’s such early days for the next project. I don’t know if I want to show off the material yet because I might completely change my mind, and it’s not set for me to create a world with that kind of sound. I don’t know if it’s going to be shown on the tour or not, but we have started writing and we’ve got about nine songs. I’m not sure any of them are right yet.”
Pale Waves Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat October 11 2025 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Mon October 13 2025 - SUNDERLAND Fire Station
Tue October 14 2025 - STOKE Sugarmill
Thu October 16 2025 - MANCHESTER O2 Ritz
Fri October 17 2025 - CARDIFF Tramshed
Sat October 18 2025 - SHEFFIELD Rocking Chair
Mon October 20 2025 - BRIGHTON Chalk
Tue October 21 2025 - SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms
Wed October 22 2025 - NORWICH Adrian Flux Waterfront
Thu October 23 2025 - BOURNEMOUTH Old Fire Station
Sat October 25 2025 - OXFORD O2 Academy Oxford
Tue October 28 2025 - DUBLIN Academy
Wed October 29 2025 - BELFAST Limelight
Thu October 30 2025 - CORK Cyprus Avenue
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