Alt-J announce Irish dates and share touching new single ‘Get Better’

Alt-J shared their new song ‘Get Better’ and announced a tour of Ireland and the UK yesterday (November 3).

The track features Joe Newman’s inimitable vocal style and a soft acoustic guitar in a song that pays tribute to frontline workers during the pandemic. ‘Get Better’ is accompanied by an animated video created by award-winning pixel artist Stefanie Grunwald.

The poignant song explores hoping someone close to you will get better and then longing for them after they have passed. “I still pretend you’re only out of sight / In another room, smiling at your phone,” Newman sings towards the back end of the track.

“When Joe first played it to me I didn’t just get a bit tearful, I broke down. A big, big cry. A cry of the year,” said keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton about the song.

The origins of the track precedes the pandemic and was created by combining two unfinished songs:

“‘Get Better’ is the union of two songs. The first was an improvised song I sang in 2018 to my partner who was suffering from period pain," said Newman. "To her I sang ‘Get better my Darcy, I know you can,’ She filmed it and I kept revisiting the fragment with a plan to write more."

“The second was a chord structure I worked on in lockdown that focused on someone living through a bereavement. I felt a nervous heat when writing ‘Get Better’,” explained the songwriter.

“The context of the coronavirus pandemic lent my words a chilling weight and gave me a new sense of responsibility as a lyricist. Whilst the direct events described are fictional, I believe — or I hope — that it’s emotionally the most honest song I’ve written.”

The indie rock band are set to release their latest record The Dream on February 11th. It follows up their 2017 LP Relaxer and Alt-J previewed the new album with their latest single ‘U&ME’ in September.

The trio are set to embark on a tour in May 2022 to mark the release of their fourth studio album. Alt-J will play a number of dates in the UK and are set to play a show at the 3Olympia Theatre on May 22nd.

Exclusive presale tickets will be available on November 10th at 9am for those who have preordered The Dream. General sale goes live on November 12th at 9am. Tickets will be available from Ticketmaster.

Alt-J have announced a prize draw that gives fans the chance to win a Larrivee P-05 guitar — the model Newman used to write ‘Get Better’ and record The Dream. The lyrics of ‘Get Better’ will be written on the guitar by Newman.

The proceeds from the draw will go to global children’s charity, Plan International. The charity operates in more than 50 countries and strives to provide lasting equality for girls and protects children worldwide. You can enter the draw here.

Watch the video for ‘Get Better’ below.