SOAK releases last single 'Swear Jar' days before new album drops

Leading up to the release of SOAK’s new album, If I Never Know You Like This Again, the indie band has just released the latest single off the record, ‘Swear Jar.’ The release is coupled with an acoustic, stripped version and lyric video for the single on YouTube.

If I Never Know You Like This Again, set for release on May 20, follows the 2019 album from the Northern Ireland collective, Grim Town, marking their third record since SOAK’s 2015 debut, the Mercury-nominated Before We Forgot How to Dream.

SOAK’s new sound, captured on ‘Swear Jar,’ is the product of vocalist Bridie and trusted collaborator Tommy McLaughlin, who wrote much of the album together while listening to Broken Social Scene, Radiohead, Pavement and other iconic indie bands. The album is influenced by mid-’90s riffs and pedals, recorded in Donegal’s Attica Studios with the rest of the band. Previous SOAK releases were created separately, thanks to virtual technology, so this newest project is a major milestone for the band’s unification.

In an interview in Hot Press’ newest issue, Bridie revealed, “This album is probably the most honest I’ve been with myself.” Bridie’s lyricism is raw and relatable. “This record is the most accurate picture of me. I felt no pressure at all, it was almost like I was ranting as I was writing,” they relay, describing the record as the most “accurate picture” of themself, built on their own personal experiences.

Listen to the newest single from the Northern Irish indie band, ‘Swear Jar’ below. You can also pre-order If I Never Know You Like This Again, out via all platforms on May 20 through Rough Trade Records.