Father John Misty Releases New Single The X-panded Universe

Father John Misty is clearly building toward something. Josh Tillman has now released three singles in 2026, following "The Old Law" and "The Payoff" earlier this year, and the latest, "The X-panded Universe", lands with the same sweeping ambition that has defined this run of music.

All three tracks share a sonic blueprint: orchestral arrangements courtesy of Drew Erickson, apocalyptic lyrical territory, and a Beatles-adjacent sense of scale that feels almost out of step with the current moment, in the best way. "The X-panded Universe" digs back into Tillman's ongoing reckoning with religion and spirituality, themes he has been circling since at least 2015's "I Love You, Honeybear". The chorus, "Everyone gets saved," lands somewhere between sincere and sardonic, which is exactly the space Father John Misty has always worked best.

The song opens low and spare, then builds steadily until the arrangement achieves full lift. By the time the chorus returns, the track earns its runtime. It is the kind of song that rewards headphones and some patience.

What Does This Mean for a Follow-Up to Mahashmashana?

Tillman's last full album, "Mahashmashana," dropped in 2024 to the kind of critical reception that reminded people why Father John Misty matters as a songwriter. There has been no official announcement of a new record, but releasing three orchestral singles in the span of a year is not something artists typically do for sport.

Erickson, who has been Tillman's primary arranger and collaborator for years, is back on all three tracks. That continuity suggests these songs were conceived together, not as standalone releases. Whether this becomes an EP, an album, or something else entirely, the creative engine is clearly running.

For fans who have been following Tillman's arc from his Fleet Foxes drummer days through the entire FJM catalog, this run of singles feels like a focused artist operating at a high level and taking his time getting there.

Father John Misty Is Touring the West This December

Alongside the new single, Tillman has announced his first solo tour since 2013, a western US run spanning December 2026. The Los Angeles date at The Fonda Theatre on October 6 is already sold out, so if you missed that window, the December run is your next shot.

The full schedule:, 10/06: Los Angeles, CA at The Fonda Theatre (Sold Out), 12/09: Boulder, CO at Boulder Theatre, 12/10: Ft. Collins, CO at Washington's, 12/12: Santa Fe, NM at The Lensic Center For The Arts, 12/13: Tucson, AZ at La Rosa, 12/15: Napa, CA at Uptown Theater, 12/16: Grass Valley, CA at Center for the Arts, 12/18: Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA at Sunset Cultural Center, 12/19: Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA at Sunset Cultural Center

Most December dates feature Damien Jurado as support. Jurado is a Pacific Northwest folk fixture with a discography that goes back to the late 1990s, and his low-key, introspective style pairs naturally with what Tillman has been doing on these new songs.

For LA-based readers, the Fonda show being sold out is frustrating but also telling. Tillman has not toured solo in over a decade, and the demand is clearly there. Keep an eye on the December dates if you are willing to travel, or watch for any additional shows added closer to fall.

Where This Is Headed and Why It Matters

For independent artists and musicians watching this rollout, there is a useful blueprint here. Tillman is dropping singles with no album announcement, building anticipation through the music itself rather than through press cycles and marketing noise. Each track is substantive enough to stand alone and does not require a larger project to justify its existence.

That approach takes confidence in the material, and it takes the kind of audience that has already decided to pay attention. Father John Misty has spent over a decade building that relationship, and these 2026 singles suggest he is not interested in coasting on it.

If a new album does get announced, these three singles will look like a very deliberate setup. If it does not, this is still a strong year of music from one of the more interesting songwriters working right now. Either way, worth your time.

Check our [events page](/events) for any additional LA-area dates as they are announced.