Told Slant Shares New Single 'Draw Blood' Ahead of September Album

Told Slant, the project of New York-based Felix Walworth, has shared a new single called "Draw Blood," the second track released from their upcoming album What's Up, out September 4 via Mtn. Laurel Recording Co.

The song opens on the daily grind of city life and builds into what Walworth describes as generalized anger. "This city's a casino," Walworth sings. "This city's a mass grave." In a statement, they explain the emotional logic behind the record: "I think there is a frustration on this record, a set of grievances that feels so overwhelming to me, that the only way I felt I could express it was in religious appeals. When you are defeated entirely, what do you have other than prayer?"

Walworth calls What's Up their "New York record," framing it as a collection of songs about watching a hometown change and feeling how that change lands on you personally. In their words, the album reckons with committing "somewhat maniacally to the project of self expression and subculture in one of the most hostile environments on earth" and contending with "all of the people and places and dreams that have died along the way."

On the deeper subject matter, Walworth points to "New York becoming a shrine to capitalism and the underground being unable to mount any effective resistance," but also to "this whole other set of knowledge of what living in the city as an artist could be, both from living it, and from my parents."

For independent artists navigating the same tensions between creative life and economic reality, the album's core question, what does commitment to your craft actually cost, hits close to home.

What's Up is Told Slant's most collaborative record to date. Walworth tracked drums, bass, and guitar with Hannah Pruzinsky and Florist bandmate Jonnie Baker, with the three of them handling arrangements together. They built a makeshift studio upstate for a month and recorded everything to an eight-track reel-to-reel. Additional performances came from Ceci Sturman, Hellen Ballentine, Emily Sprague, Mari Rubio, and Elijah Wolf.

The album's lead single "Manhattan" preceded "Draw Blood" and was covered by Pitchfork, Stereogum, and Brooklyn Vegan, according to the release.

Tour Dates, November 3, Brighton, UK at DUST, November 4, Bristol, UK at The Croft, November 5, London, UK at Pitchfork Music Festival (MOTH Club)

Track List 1. Real Love 2. Manhattan 3. What's Up 4. Rain of God 5. Sailor 6. Draw Blood 7. Three Anchovies 8. I am a Singer 9. Marcie Come Home 10. Hold You Down

What's Up is out September 4 via Mtn. Laurel Recording Co.