Esther Rose announces new LP, shares video directed by Anna Marie Tendler

Esther Rose announced a new album, Want, due May 2 via New West Records (pre-order). The album was produced by Ross Farbe (of Video Age) and recorded live-to-tape at the Bomb Shelter in Nashville, and the album also features other members of Video Age, plus members of The Deslondes, and Silver Synthetic, and singer/songwriter Dean Johnson. “There are things that I have tiptoed around in my writing — and in my life — that I wasn’t ready to look at,” Esther says, “and now I’m going for it.”

She continues, “This record is introspective and internal. In these songs, I examine my thoughts and behavior patterns. There are other themes, fear being a big one. I write when I’m scared, and I was scared a lot, sometimes by external situations but mostly by deep-diving into my subconscious. Another theme is accountability. I’m still learning about this one. I believe in the power of music to reveal and heal.”

The first single is “New Bad,” a gritty country/indie rock hybrid that serves as great first taste of this album. It comes with a video which doubles as the music video directorial debut by Men Have Called Her Crazy author Anna Marie Tendler, and here’s what Esther and Anna Marie say about it:

Esther Rose: This song leaps from the speakers. It’s part grunge, part shoegaze. Working with Anna Marie Tendler was the collaboration I’ve always dreamed of. We sparked an easy, natural rapport out of mutual admiration for each other’s artistry. After I read her book Men Have Called Her Crazy, I sent her a note, saying that my unreleased album and her memoir were apparently spiritual twins. Luckily, she agreed.

Anna Marie Tendler: We spent five days, just the two of us, traversing the desert talking and laughing about love, family, our careers, therapy, ketamine, divorce, and music, all while filming a video whose themes and visuals were predicated on the pluralism of self. We also spent a lot of time in comfortable silence watching a golden sun set into an inky sky. On our last day, I thanked Esther for taking this chance on me. She, of course, had access to all my photographs, but there was little in terms of video work to prove my proficiency, let alone talent. I was surprised to learn it wasn’t my visual work, but my memoir, which had gotten me the job. I just knew you would get what I was trying to say, Esther told me.

Esther is also gearing up for a co-headlining tour with Twain, including shows at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right on March 23 and Kingston, NY’s Tubby’s on March 29. Check out the new song/video and her full tour schedule below.

Tracklist
1. Want
2. tailspin (ft. Video Age)
3. Had To
4. Ketamine
5. Rescue You
6. Scars (ft. Dean Johnson)
7. Messenger
8. New Bad
9. The Clown
10. Color Wheel
11. Want Pt. 2

Ester Rose — 2025 Tour Dates
Feb 5 Austin, TX @ Sagebrush *
Feb 6 Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips *
Feb 7 Oklahoma City, OK @ Resonant Head *
Feb 11 Los Angeles, CA @ Gold-Diggers (sold out) *
Feb 13 San Francisco, CA @ 4 Star Theater (sold out) *
Feb 14 Ojai, CA @ Deer Lodge *
Feb 15 Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum *
Feb 16 Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroot Brewery *
Feb 27 Nashville, TN @ Blue Room at Third Man Records *
Feb 28 Little Rock, AR @ White Water Tavern *
Mar 1 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge *
Mar 2 Columbus, MS @ Sunstroke House *
Mar 4 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s *
Mar 5 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club *
Mar 6 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *
Mar 7 Newport, KY @ Southgate House *
Mar 8 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar *
Mar 9 Asheville, NC @ Eulogy *
Mar 20 Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall *
Mar 21 Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java *
Mar 22 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
Mar 23 Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right *
Mar 25 Toronto, ON @ Garrison *
Mar 26 Montreal, QC @ Bar le Ritz PDB *
Mar 27 Burlington, VT @ Light Club Lamp Shop (sold out) *
Mar 28 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery *
Mar 29 Kingston, NY @ Tubby’s (sold out) *
May 07 Den Haag, NL @ Paard ~
May 08 Groningen, NL @ Lutherse Kerk ~
May 09 Amen, NL @ Cultureel Café de Amer ~
May 10 Breda, NL @ Mezz ~
May 11 Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg ~
May 13 Kristiansand, NO @ Vaktbua ~
May 14 Oslo, NO @ Kampen Bistro ~
May 15 Trondheim, NO @ Bar Moskus ~
May 16 Östersund, SE @ Jazzköket ~
May 19 Glasgow, UK @ Glad Cafe +
May 20 Manchester, UK @ The Lodge +
May 21 London, UK @ Lexington +
May 22 Gothenburg, SE @ Nefertiti +
May 24 Stockholm, SE @ Echo Three Fest +
May 26 Copenhagen, DK @ Ideal Bar +
May 27 Odense, DK @ Dexter +
May 28 Hamburg, DE @ Nochtwache +
May 30 Burghausen @ Jazzkeller +
June 02 Paris, FR @ Supersonic +

* Co-Headline Tour with Twain
~ Supporting Andrew Combs
+ Headline Shows