Ben Howard releases Walking Backwards, the second track to be lifted from his fifth studio album, ‘Is It?’ released on the 16th of June 2023 through Island Records. Smouldering in a maelstrom of cut-up samples and driven beats, Walking Backwards is the second introductory track from the forthcoming record and another richly textured, experimental pop song that identifies another shifting of sonics for this most storied and unpredictable of British musicians.
Ben on Walking Backwards: “Walking Backwards is a song to remind ourselves you are doing just fine. A small, personal resistance to the growing pressure to conform. To let go of the constant expectation that we should be striving for more and ploughing forever forwards.. You are doing great, keep up the good work.”
Listen to ‘Walking Backwards’ BELOW:
Ben and his band recorded ‘Is It?’ over 10 days in the Le Manoir de Léon studios, nestled between Bordeaux and Biarritz in the South of France. It was produced by Bullion (Westerman, Nilüfer Yanya, Orlando Weeks). The ten-song record is a lush and sonically splintered album which captures Ben working through some intense moments of a seismic shift, having experienced two mini-strokes (Transient Ischemic Attacks (ISAs)) back in early 2022.
Following a series of inconclusive hospital tests, Ben headed back to France and put all of his focus and much of his soul into creating one of his most upbeat and uplifting records in years.
This month, Ben kicks off a UK and European tour in Madrid at La Riviera on the 18th of May, hitting cities through Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK including an already sold-out show at London’s new Alexandra Palace Park on 22nd July. He headlines the Royal Albert Hall on the 1st of June.
Remaining tickets for all headline dates are on sale now via www.benhowardmusic.co.uk
Ben Howard Live:
18th May – La Riviera, Madrid
19th May – Santana 27, Bilbao
20th May – Palacio de Congresos, Santiago de Compostela
22nd May – Coliseu Lisboa, Lisbon
23rd May – Coliseu Porto, Porto
25th May – Razzmatazz, Barcelona
26th May – Le Rocher de Palmer, Bordeaux
1st June – Royal Albert Hall, London
15th June – Fairview Park, Dublin
17th June – Piknik I Parken – Oslo, Norway
19th June – Carré Theatre, Amsterdam SOLD OUT
20th June – Carré Theatre, Amsterdam SOLD OUT
21st June – Phil Haarlem, Netherlands
30th June – Rock Werchter, Werchter
1st July – On The Mount At Wasing, Berkshire
2nd July – Down the Rabbit Hole, Beuningen
4th July – Philarmonie de Paris, Paris
6th July – Arena Wien, Vienna
7th July – Pohoda Festival, Trenčín
9th July – Sexto ‘Nplugged, Sesto Al Reghena
11th July – Žluté Lázně, Prague
12th July – Progresja Summer Stage, Warsaw
14th July – Zitadelle, Berlin
15th July – Stadtpark, Hamburg
17th July – Tonhalle, Munich
18th July – X-Tra, Zurich
21st July – SWG3 Yard, Glasgow
22nd July – Alexandra Palace Park, London SOLD OUT
23rd July – Cardiff Castle, Cardiff
11th August – Boardmasters, Newquay
27th August – Victorious Festival, Portsmouth
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