New Music: Avery Friedman – New Thing

Ahead of the release of her new album in a few weeks, Avery Friedman has given us an early airing of the title track, New Thing.

Sounding like the flipside to previous single Flowers Fell, New Thing leans into more muscular, yet oddly fragile terrain – much like Pixies at times. It’s as if the song is putting on a front for the listener, the guitars sharp, the volume loud, and the vocals full of power, even as Friedman sings of a crack in her voice.

Music born from trauma can be difficult to write and, at times, difficult for others to hear, but don’t let that put you off listening to this track – the emotional and artistic reward is worth it.

“I wrote New Thing in one sitting after riding the subway home alone at night for the first time since being mugged at knifepoint months prior,” says Friedman.

“I was shocked and disoriented by the anxiety I experienced doing something so routine—I felt foreign to myself.”

“It’s one of the first of my songs that I truly loved, which is part of why I chose it as the title of my upcoming record. I’m grateful for how this song continues to bring me back into my body.”

New Thing comes out on the 18th of April via the always-excellent Audio Antihero and can be pre-ordered in cassette and limited-edition clear sky-blue vinyl on Bandcamp. You can also hear the title track on SoundCloud and Spotify.

Keep in the loop with Avery Friedman and all the latest news about the album over on BlueSky, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. 

Header photo by Mamie Heldman