Sylvan Esso Announce First Album In Four Years 'Ow ∞', Share New Single Concrete Glen
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Written by Laura Johnson
Photo: Tonje Thilesen
Sylvan Esso have announced their first new album in four years.
'Ow ∞', the follow-up to 2022's 'No Rules Sandy', will arrive on September 11 via their own record label Psychic Hotline. The duo, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, self-produced the record at their studio Betty’s in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Meath said:
"One of my favourite ways of producing in general is to come up with an idea and then take out a third of it. One, it makes things interesting and exciting, but also it makes your ear ask a question. And it kind of forces the listener to be creative as well. To try to fill that space with something, which I find as a listener to be really exciting and interesting. Particularly with pop music, because it's all about fulfilling a promise. You know this melodic structure, you know, we're going to the four here. Not doing it is always the thing that makes people fall in love with a song or a person.
"Living hurts forever, and then it stops. But also it’s a little silly. And that’s how I feel. If you’re going to keep participating in the world, and in your life, you have to commit to being hurt. And if you aren't putting yourself in the way of potential hurt, you miss out on a lot of potential opportunities. So in some ways it’s like a rallying cry, saying ‘I’m gonna get hurt forever, and that’s okay.’”
The album features six different drummers, as well as live guitar, bass, keys, vibraphone, woodwinds, Innato, organ, piano and electronics, with contributions from Daniel Aged (Frank Ocean, Dijon), BJ Burton (Bon Iver, Charli XCX), Matt Douglas (The Mountain Goats), Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Jake Luppen (Hippo Campus, Samia), TJ Maiani (Weyes Blood, Neneh Cherry), James Mapley-Brittle (GRRL), Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean, Bon Iver), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) and Joe Westerlund (Megafaun) across the record.
The North Carolina band previously previewed the record with the song Hot Slob and have now shared another taster in the form of Concrete Glen, a chilled, experimental indie-pop track. Watch its video below.
Sylvan Esso will support the new record with UK in-store performances in Brighton and London on September 20 and 21, respectively, ahead of touring North America in the fall and again next spring. Tickets are on sale now.
Global listening events for 'Ow ∞' will also take place globally on September 3. Find your local event via their website.
'Ow ∞' tracklist:
Entertainment & Coca-Cola
Flood Season
Hot Slob
Concrete Glen
Back Again
Ribbon
Sledge
Right to Left
Good at Pain
Jessica
On & On
Plastic Sword
Sylvan Esso Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Fri July 31 2026 - BURLINGTON Vermont - Burlington Waterfront Park (USA)
Sat September 12 2026 - ABIQUIU New Mexico - Blossoms and Bones (USA)
Sun September 20 2026 - BRIGHTON Resident Music
Mon September 21 2026 - LONDON Rough Trade
Thu October 01 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - Eastern-GA (USA)
Fri October 02 2026 - ASHEVILLE North Carolina - Orange Peel (USA)
Sat October 03 2026 - ASHEVILLE North Carolina - Orange Peel (USA)
Mon October 05 2026 - WASHINGTON District Of Columbia - 9:30 Club (USA)
Tue October 06 2026 - WASHINGTON District Of Columbia - 9:30 Club (USA)
Thu October 08 2026 - DURHAM North Carolina - DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) (USA)
Sat October 10 2026 - DURHAM North Carolina - DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) (USA)
Mon October 12 2026 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - Franklin Music Hall (USA)
Wed October 14 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Brooklyn Paramount (USA)
Thu October 15 2026 - NEW HAVEN Connecticut - College Street Music Hall (USA)
Fri October 16 2026 - PORTLAND Maine - State Theatre (USA)
Sat October 17 2026 - BOSTON Massachusetts - Citizens House of Blues Boston (USA)
Mon October 19 2026 - TORONTO Ontario - History (Canada)
Wed October 21 2026 - MILWAUKEE Wisconsin - Riverside Theatre - WI (USA)
Thu October 22 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - Salt Shed Indoors (Shed) (USA)
Fri October 23 2026 - MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota - First Avenue (USA)
Sat October 24 2026 - MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota - First Avenue (USA)
Fri February 19 2027 - SEATTLE Washington - Paramount Theatre (USA)
Sat February 20 2027 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Vogue Theatre - BC (Canada)
Mon February 22 2027 - PORTLAND Oregon - Mcmenamins Crystal Ballroom (USA)
Tue February 23 2027 - PORTLAND Oregon - Mcmenamins Crystal Ballroom (USA)
Thu February 25 2027 - OAKLAND California - Fox Theater - Oakland (USA)
Fri February 26 2027 - LOS ANGELES California - Wiltern (USA)
Sat February 27 2027 - SANTA ANA California - Observatory (USA)
Mon March 01 2027 - DEL MAR California - Sound (USA)
Tue March 02 2027 - PHOENIX Arizona - Van Buren (USA)
Thu March 04 2027 - SALT LAKE CITY Utah - Rockwell At The Complex (USA)
Fri March 05 2027 - DENVER Colorado - Ogden Theatre (USA)
Sat March 06 2027 - DENVER Colorado - Ogden Theatre (USA)
Mon March 08 2027 - AUSTIN Texas - Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater (USA)
Tue March 09 2027 - DALLAS Texas - House of Blues Dallas (USA)
Thu March 11 2027 - NEW ORLEANS Louisiana - Tipitina's (USA)
Fri March 12 2027 - BIRMINGHAM AL Alabama - Iron City (USA)
Sat March 13 2027 - NASHVILLE Tennessee - Brooklyn Bowl Nashville (USA)
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