Nana Wu
Alt-rock sensation Beabadoobee, born Beatrice Laus, is poised to usher in a new, heavier era with the announcement of her fourth studio album, Pylon, slated for release on September 18 via Dirty Hit and Interscope Records. The unveiling on Wednesday, June 24, was accompanied by the debut of the album’s lead single, the searing track "Sun Has Set," along with its official music video. Adding to the excitement, Laus confirmed her most ambitious live venture to date: The Powerlines Tour, a global series of dates that will see her headline her first-ever arena shows across North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe later this year, including stops at iconic venues like New York City’s Madison Square Garden and London’s O2 Arena.
A New Sonic Direction and Star-Studded Collaborations
Pylon marks a significant artistic evolution for Beabadoobee, signaling a deliberate shift towards a more distortion-soaked and robust sound. This forthcoming record promises to be a testament to Laus’s continued growth as a songwriter and musician, venturing further into the alternative rock landscape while retaining the introspective lyricism that has defined her career. The album’s title itself, Pylon, encapsulates this new direction and underlying thematic depth. According to a press release, pylons – the towering steel structures that support high-voltage power lines – serve as a metaphor for Laus’s enduring connection to her friends and family, a grounding force she found herself desperately needing amidst the extreme disconnection and isolation experienced during extensive touring over the past few years. This imagery suggests an album rooted in resilience, strength, and the invisible threads that bind us, even when physically separated.
The sonic tapestry of Pylon is further enriched by an impressive roster of collaborators, signaling a wider embrace of the alternative music community. Paramore’s powerhouse vocalist Hayley Williams lends her distinctive voice to the track "Nothing To Prove," a collaboration that is likely to excite fans of both artists and hints at the album’s potential for soaring melodies and raw emotionality. Brendan Yates, the dynamic frontman of hardcore punk band Turnstile, contributes a verse to "Powerlines," a feature that underscores the album’s heavier inclinations and willingness to experiment with diverse rock subgenres. Further enhancing this collaborative spirit are appearances from Evan Stephens Hall of indie-rock outfit Pinegrove, Chino Moreno of the iconic alt-metal band Deftones, and Shane Moran from the influential emo band Title Fight. These diverse contributions suggest a rich sonic palette for Pylon, blending different facets of alternative music into Beabadoobee’s evolving sound.
Beyond featured vocalists, the album also benefits from significant production input from Laus’s Dirty Hit labelmates, Matty Healy and George Daniel of The 1975. Their involvement, given their acclaimed production sensibilities and their own band’s genre-fluid approach, is expected to add another layer of sophisticated craftsmanship to Pylon, potentially weaving in elements of electronic texture or atmospheric depth that complement the album’s core alt-rock sound. This internal collaboration within the Dirty Hit family highlights a supportive creative environment and shared artistic vision.
"Sun Has Set": A Blistering Introduction
The lead single, "Sun Has Set," serves as a potent introduction to the new soundscape of Pylon. The track is characterized by a blistering mix of jagged guitars and biting vocals, a stark contrast to some of her earlier, more ethereal work. Laus’s vocal delivery on the single is particularly notable for its raw intensity and directness. The song’s lyrical content delves into themes of unspoken frustration and a desire for catharsis, as Laus herself described it: "A lot of the songs on this record are things I wish I could have said to someone. This song has this petty tunnel vision – it’s like, ‘I hate you.’ You’re gonna stay here and listen to how much I hate you. Because I never got to say that." This candid statement provides insight into the emotional core of the album, suggesting a collection of tracks that are both deeply personal and universally relatable in their exploration of complex feelings.
Accompanying the single is an official music video, directed by Jake Erland, Laus’s partner and long-time visual collaborator. Erland has been instrumental in shaping Beabadoobee’s visual aesthetic since the early days of her career, often crafting evocative and intimate visuals that perfectly complement her music. The "Sun Has Set" video is expected to visually interpret the song’s intensity and underlying emotional narrative, further immersing listeners into the world of Pylon. The consistency of their collaborative partnership ensures a cohesive artistic vision across both auditory and visual elements.
The Powerlines Tour: A Monumental Step onto the Arena Stage
Perhaps the most significant announcement alongside Pylon‘s reveal is The Powerlines Tour, a global trek that will see Beabadoobee headline her first-ever arena shows. This marks a monumental milestone in her career, reflecting her burgeoning popularity and the substantial growth of her dedicated fanbase. Transitioning from clubs and theaters to arenas signifies a new level of commercial success and industry recognition. The tour is set to kick off in North America on October 1 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, before making its way across major cities. Key North American stops include the illustrious Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 5, Boston’s TD Garden on October 3, Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on October 7, and The Kia Forum in Los Angeles on October 21.
Following her North American leg, Laus will bring The Powerlines Tour to the United Kingdom and Europe. The UK dates include major arenas such as Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on November 14, Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on November 16, Manchester’s AO Arena on November 17, and a highly anticipated performance at London’s iconic O2 Arena on November 18. European stops will see her play in cities like Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, and Dusseldorf, further solidifying her international appeal.
The logistics of an arena tour are complex, requiring a significant upgrade in production, staging, and technical capabilities. This move indicates a substantial investment in the live experience, promising fans a more elaborate and immersive show than ever before. The sheer scale of these venues also presents an opportunity for Beabadoobee to connect with a larger audience, expanding her reach and cementing her status as a global touring artist.
Ticketing for The Powerlines Tour will commence with a fan presale on June 30 at 10 AM local time, providing an early access opportunity for her most dedicated followers. General ticket sales will then open on July 2 at 10 AM local time. Fans are encouraged to visit the official Beabadoobee website, beabadoobee.com, for comprehensive ticketing information, including VIP packages and specific venue details.
Recent Triumphs and Ascending Stature
Beatrice Laus, at just 26 years old, has enjoyed a remarkable trajectory since her emergence in the late 2010s. Her last full-length effort, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, released in 2024, was a critical and commercial success. The album, notably featuring production from the legendary Rick Rubin, soared to the top of the Official U.K. Albums Chart and achieved a career-high No. 34 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. This achievement underscored her growing influence and ability to resonate with a broad international audience.
Prior to the Pylon announcement, Laus maintained a prolific output, engaging in various collaborations and contributions. Earlier this year, she teamed up with The Marías for the collaborative single "All I Did Was Dream of You," showcasing her versatility and willingness to explore different musical partnerships. Furthermore, she featured prominently on the Help(2) compilation, a charity record alongside esteemed artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Olivia Rodrigo, contributing a poignant cover of Elliott Smith’s "Say Yes." These recent endeavors highlight her consistent artistic engagement and commitment to both creative exploration and philanthropic causes.
Her journey began with bedroom-recorded tracks, most notably "Coffee," which gained widespread attention and later became a viral sensation through a remix by Powfu, titled "Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head)." This early success, while somewhat serendipitous, laid the groundwork for her subsequent albums, Fake It Flowers (2020) and Beatopia (2022), which solidified her reputation for crafting dreamy, introspective indie-pop and alt-rock. With Pylon, she appears poised to shed any lingering remnants of her "bedroom pop" origins, embracing a more robust and commanding sound that aligns with her evolving artistic vision and the grandeur of her upcoming arena tour.
Broader Implications and Anticipation
The release of Pylon and The Powerlines Tour represents a pivotal moment in Beabadoobee’s career. The album’s heavier sound and high-profile collaborations suggest a strategic move to broaden her appeal beyond her established indie-pop fanbase, potentially attracting listeners from more hard-edged alternative and rock genres. The involvement of artists like Hayley Williams and Chino Moreno indicates a stamp of approval from influential figures within the rock world, lending credibility to her new direction.
Commercially, the arena tour is a significant indicator of her rising star power and ability to draw massive crowds. It places her in a league with established global acts and offers a platform for unprecedented exposure. Critically, Pylon will be watched closely to see how this sonic evolution is received by both long-time fans and new listeners. The thematic depth hinted at by the album title, coupled with the raw honesty expressed in "Sun Has Set," suggests an album that is not only sonically adventurous but also emotionally resonant.
Beabadoobee’s trajectory reflects a modern artist navigating the complexities of fame and artistic growth. From viral internet sensation to critically acclaimed album artist and now an arena headliner, her journey exemplifies the dynamic possibilities within today’s music industry. With Pylon and The Powerlines Tour, Beatrice Laus is not just turning up the volume; she is declaring a powerful new chapter, solidifying her position as one of the most exciting and evolving voices in contemporary alternative music. The full Pylon tracklist is expected to be revealed soon, further building anticipation for this landmark release.
Beabadoobee – The Powerlines Tour Dates:
Oct. 1 – Uncasville, Connecticut @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Oct. 2 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Liacouras Center
Oct. 3 – Boston, Massachusetts @ TD Garden
Oct. 5 – New York, New York @ Madison Square Garden
Oct. 7 – Toronto, Ontario @ Scotiabank Arena
Oct. 8 – Laval, Quebec @ Place Bell
Oct. 10 – Columbia, Maryland @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
Oct. 11 – Raleigh, North Carolina @ Lenovo Center
Oct. 13 – Orlando, Florida @ Addition Financial Arena
Oct. 14 – Duluth, Georgia @ Gas South Arena
Oct. 16 – The Woodlands, Texas @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Oct. 17 – Austin, Texas @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Oct. 19 – Phoenix, Arizona @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Oct. 21 – Los Angeles, California @ The Kia Forum
Oct. 24 – San Diego, California @ Viejas Arena
Oct. 26 – Oakland, California @ Oakland Arena
Oct. 28 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rogers Arena
Oct. 29 – Seattle, Washington @ Climate Pledge Arena
Nov. 14 – Glasgow, Scotland @ OVO Hydro
Nov. 16 – Cardiff, Wales @ Utilita Arena
Nov. 17 – Manchester, England @ AO Arena
Nov. 18 – London, England @ The O2
Nov. 23 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ KB Hallen
Nov. 24 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Fryshuset Arenan
Nov. 27 – Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum
Nov. 30 – Paris, France @ Zenith
Dec. 2 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live
Dec. 4 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
Dec. 6 – Berlin, Germany @ Tempodrom
Dec. 7 – Dusseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric Halle
