Bathe, the R&B duo consisting of vocalist/songwriter Devin Hobdy and guitarist/producer Corey Smith-West, is back with their new song “Avalon.”
It’s their first official single in nearly four years and their first release since signing with MNRK Records.
“Avalon” is a reverie about escaping the hassles of everyday life to unwind in a place as enchanting as the mythical island it’s named after.
Lyrically, the song juxtaposes the reality of routine (“woke up late and drove straight to my interview in my Avalon”) and the fantasy of escapism (“just an island in a dream make believe”).
Speaking on “Avalon,” Corey of Bathe tells Rated R&B, “Both Dev and I have worked more dead-end office jobs than we can count. We wrote ‘Avalon’ about those days where your body is stuck in your cubicle, but your mind is far away somewhere that’s sunny, tropical, warm, and filled with nectarines.”
“Avalon” is accompanied by a video directed by Godfred Ceasar Sedano. The video depicts the Brooklyn-based duo working in an office while imagining new possibilities in a more pleasant setting.
As indicated above, “Avalon” is Bathe’s first single since their 2021 debut EP, Bicoastal. The nine-track offering included popular tracks such as “Schönefeld,” “Bolero,” and “Sundress.”
“We started the project by writing about the exhilaration you feel at takeoff and the anxieties you pretend to leave on the tarmac. But quarantine molded it into our personal and still unresolved search for home in the things we’ve always known,” Devin explained about Bicoastal.
On Sept. 27, Bathe will launch their eight-city U.S. tour at Sultan Room in New York City. They will make stops in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and more before concluding Oct. 12 in San Fransisco at Brick & Mortar.
Tickets for Bathe’s tour go on sale Friday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. local time. The tour dates are listed below.
Stream Bathe’s new song “Avalon” below.
Bathe’s 2024 Tour Dates
Sep 27 – New York, NY @ Sultan Room
Sep 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
Oct 2 – Washington, DC @ DC9
Oct 4 – Durham, NC @ Missy Lanes
Oct 5 – Atlanta, GA @ Purgatory
Oct 9 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Oct 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Peppermint Club
Oct 12 – San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar
Get tickets at batheboys.com.