Adrianne Lenker is kicking off a brand new solo album in 2024 with the new single, “Ruined,” a haunting ballad that her band Big Thief live debuted earlier this year.
Lenker’s new rendition of the song is patient and piano-based, a rare thing for the guitarist. “Can’t get enough of you / You come around I’m ruined,” she laments on the chorus.
“This song has been a quiet beacon for me,” Lenker said of “Ruined.” “It may contain the essence of the gift of romantic love but it’s mostly about something much bigger.”
“Ruined” is not the first example of Lenker borrowing from Big Thief and vice versa, as she retrofits songs across discographies and produces multiple versions of tracks like “From” and “Terminal Paradise.”
Lenker, one of the most beloved voices in modern folk and indie rock, also released a music video directed by her brother, Noah Lenker, which shows the singer-songwriter basking in the autumn sun and soaking in riverbeds.
A European solo tour will kick off April 19 in Galway, Ireland, and run until May 12 in Oslo, Norway. Lenker will stop in the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden along the way. Openers include Ellie O’Neill, Nick Hakim and Twain. Tickets will go on sale starting Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. GMT and 11 a.m. CET.
Before she hits the road, Lenker will teach an online songwriting workshop through School of Song, which includes four live Zoom lectures in January.
Big Thief recently wrapped up a landmark tour in support of their 2022 album, “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You.”
Watch the music video for “Ruined” below.
