Nashville-by-Boston duo Twen creates a completely transformative experience on their latest single “Baptism” from their upcoming debut album Awestruck.
The sprawling epic is commanded by the dynamic pairing of vocalist Jane Fitzsimmons and guitarist Ian Jones, who mix stirring, ethereal vocals with a raw composition that breaks down the boundaries between rock subgenres and captures the enigmatic live performance that the band has honed in the DIY scene. As much as the song represents the epitome of Twen’s sound, “Baptism” also stands as a moment to start fresh for the band.
“This is a mantra we’ve been playing for three years now,” Fitzsimmons tells Billboard. “Like a ritual cleansing, washing away the internal monologues and narratives that build up with time.”
Fittingly, the song feels both forward-pushing and reflective, a sonic inventory before a state of renewal. The song demonstrates the band’s ability to blend disparate moods into a powerful and evocative journey with striking, intricate melodies that harmonize into an enveloping climax and leave an unshakeable afterglow.
Twen’s debut album Awestruck is set to release on Sept. 20 via Frenchkiss amid a tour that runs through the summer into early October. Tour dates can be found below the jump, with more details on the band’s website here.
Check out “Baptism” exclusively on Billboard below.
Tour dates
Aug. 25 — Glasgow, Scotland @ Broadcast *
Aug. 27 — Manchester, UK @ Gullivers *
Aug. 28 — Cardiff, Wales @ Club Ifor Bach *
Aug. 29 — London, UK @ MOTH Club *
Aug. 30 — Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin *
Aug. 31 — Paris, France @ Supersonic *
Sept. 3 — Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Merleyn *
Sept. 4 — Groningen, Netherlands @ Vera *
Sept. 6 — Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Alstadt *
Sept. 7 — Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotown *
Sept. 9 — Nurenberg, Germany @ Kantine *
Sept. 10 — Berlin, Germany @ Marie Anoinette *
Sept. 11 — Hamburg, Germany @ Goldener Salon (Hafenklang) *
Sept. 13 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Loppen *
Sept. 14 — Oslo, Norway @ Revolver *
Sept. 15 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Obaren *
Sept. 27 — Nashville, TN @ The Basement (Awestruck album release show)
Oct. 9 — Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall ^
Oct. 10 — Philadelphia , PA @ Johnny Brenda’s ^
Oct. 11 — Washington, DC @ City Winery DC ^
* supporting Tacocat
^ supporting The Dodos