The Academic have released a brand new single today ahead of their eagerly awaited sophomore album Sitting Pretty, out on February 10th via EMI Records.

“'My Very Best' is a song about coming up short. We wanted to write something that could encapsulate the heavy heartedness and cruelty of feeling like you can’t emotionally provide a relationship with what it needs to survive,” the band explains. “The song explores the inner turmoil and feelings of inadequacy this realisation can bring.”

Invoking a cruising harmony of 80s pop blended magnificently with the strong vocals of The Academic frontman Craig Fitzgerald, 'My Very Best' describes the hard obstacles that come with learning to live and build interpersonal relationships.

It's a consoling piece, establishing solidarity with those that - even when they want to build a good relationship with someone - know that they don't have the tools or availability to.

With only 3 weeks until ‘Sitting Pretty’ is released and we head out on tour, we thought we'd share 1 more track with you…‘My Very Best’is out today! https://t.co/lM3Gx6t4Iy

Check out the video we made with our friends Tearjerker on YouTube pic.twitter.com/USgR1K60LO

— The Academic (@TheAcademic) January 19, 2023

The rest of the album tackles similar strifes of navigating your 20s, whether they be relationships with others or finding yourself.

“It’s about the entrance into true adulthood and how that can alienate you from yourself, making you feel like you’re playing a supporting role in your own life," the band affirm.

“In one moment feeling 100% certain about everything, only to become overwhelmed with feelings of aimlessness and lack of direction in the next.”

Sitting Pretty is the band's second album, following their self-release debut Tales From The Backseat, which hit number 1 in Ireland. Also included in Sitting Pretty will be the singles 'Pushing Up Daisies , 'Don't Take It Personally,' and 'Homesick.'

Tracklist:

1 - Pushing Up Daisies
2 - Don't Take It Personally
3 - What's Wrong With Me
4 - My Very Best
5 - This Is Your Life
6 - Homesick
7 - Heartbreak's Where It's At
8 - Do What You Want
9 - Step My Way
10 - Let Go of My Heart
11 - Right Where You Left Me
12 - Rain
13 - Buying Smokes

Watch The Academic Live in the UK and EU, tickets for purchase here:

February

10th – Glasgow, UK, Barrowlands
11th – Manchester, UK, Albert Hall
23rd – Birmingham, UK, O2 Institute
24th – London, UK, Shepherds Bush Empire
27th – Hamburg, Molotow Musikclub
28th – Berlin, Pratchwerk

March

1st – Munich, Orange House
3rd – Paris, La Boule Noire
4th – Amsterdam, Bitterzoet
5th – Brussels, Botanique Witloofbar
6th  – Cologne, Helios 37