Hovvdy Announce New Album Big World, Share “Try Try Try”

Hovvdy have announced a new album, Big World, and released lead single “Try Try Try.” The record follows last year’s self-titled double album, a broader, more ambitious set that marked a clear high point for the duo of Charlie Martin and Will Taylor.

Since that release, Hovvdy have kept busy outside the band as well. They collaborated with runo plum, and Martin appeared on Teethe’s well-received LP Magic Of The Sale. The pair, who started in Austin and are now based in Nashville, are also beginning to write songs for other artists. That work seems to have fed into the new album’s approach.

Big World was recorded between Nashville and Asheville with longtime collaborator Ben Littlejohn producing. Hovvdy changed their process this time, arriving in the studio with fully demoed instrumentals but no lyrics. The idea was to write words in the moment and see where that pushed the songs emotionally.

“The last record felt like such a generous offering: a double-album, deeply personal, you can literally hear me crying on some songs. With this one, we wanted to take on the challenge of making something more concise and to the point, and give the fans something that feels like a shorter but more exciting ride,” Martin said in a press release.

“Try Try Try” points to that shift. The song moves with a tight power-pop pulse, while the vocals stay loose and blurred, shaped by drawl and effects. In the Michael Rees-directed video, Hovvdy and friends play in a basement.

Along with the album news, the duo also announced a long run of tour dates, including shows opening for Wilco and Bleachers. Big World arrives on 8/14 via Arts & Crafts. Pre-order it here.

Tracklist

01 “Life So Wide”
02 “Way Down”
03 “JJ”
04 “What I Had”
05 “Blast”
06 “Starry”
07 “Try Try Try”
08 “Junk”
09 “You Will Go Far”
10 “Give It Away”
11 “Untitled”
12 “Wannabe (Radio Queen)”

Tour Dates

6/12 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion *
6/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann *
6/16 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway *
6/17 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway *
8/17 – Nijmegen, Netherlands @ De Vereeniging ^
8/18 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso ^
8/20 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo ^
8/21 – Crickhowell, UK @ Green Man Festival
8/22 – Glasgow, UK @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall ^
8/25 – Antwerp, Belgium @ OLT Rivierenhof ^
8/26 – Antwerp, Belgium @ OLT Rivierenhof ^
10/10 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
10/11 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
10/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
10/14 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
10/15 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
10/16 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
10/18 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
10/19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
10/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Sid The Cat Auditorium
10/22 – San Diego, CA @ Quartyard
10/23 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
10/25 – Ft Worth, TX @ Tulips FTW
10/26 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
11/04 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
11/05 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
11/07 – Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse
11/09 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/11 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
11/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
11/13 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
11/14 – Detroit, MI @ El Club
11/16 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
11/18 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend
11/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade – Hell
11/20 – Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room
11/21 – Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room