Augustana will release a new studio album, Life Imitating Life, on April 22nd via Washington Square. Fans can pre-order the album now in various bundles HERE ( augustana.merchnow.com).
Life Imitating Life was produced by John O\’Mahony (Coldplay, Metric, Kashmir) and recorded in Rhinebeck, NY and Nashville, TN. The album flips the next page for Augustana. The Southern California group\’s fourth full-length album and first for Washington Square sees singer, guitarist, and songwriter Dan Layus wholeheartedly embracing Augustana\’s musical touchstones, while simultaneously progressing. His own journey proves central to these ten tracks, making for a passionate, poetic, and powerful story.
The first single off the album, “Ash and Ember,” is now streaming exclusively on USAToday.com ( http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/03/03/augustana-ash-and-ember-premiere/5924349/). \”Ash & Ember\” commences with a resounding piano melody before building into an uplifting and undeniable refrain bolstered by shimmering guitars and the vocalist\’s soaring delivery.
Layus explains, \”It felt like the right way to introduce this album and re-enter the atmosphere as an artist,\” he goes on. \”I put a lot on my plate over the years. I made a ton of bad decisions and many good decisions, I hurt a lot of people I cared for and loved, including myself. The song is about how it can be easy to beat up yourself. You\’ve got to be able to acknowledge that who you are now isn\’t defined by who you were but that it is a part of your makeup. It\’s a mix of reflecting on the past as well as reflecting on the present, questioning one\’s self.”
Since starting while its members were in college, Augustana has built a remarkable history of their own. 2005\’s All The Stars and Boulevards, its follow-up Can\’t Love, Can\’t Hurt in 2008, and most recently Augustana cumulatively exceed sales of 500,000 albums. In addition, they\’ve enjoyed single sales of 2.5 million and counting. Meanwhile, \”Boston\”, \”Sweet & Low\”, and \”I Still Ain\’t Over You\” vaulted to the Top 10 at AAA Radio, while \”Boston\” reached #1 at Hot AC and landed in the Top 25 of Top 40. Not to mention, they\’ve played to packed houses around the world while headlining and supporting the likes of OneRepublic, Snow Patrol, Dashboard Confessional, and more.
Augustana is the latest signing to the newly created label Washington Square, an imprint formed by Razor & Tie. The band joins label mates The Hold Steady, the UK rock band Deaf Havana and the New York based indie rockers Born Cages.
Augustana has also announced a spring tour kicking off on April 19th with Twin Forks featuring their good friend Chris Carrabba (dates below).
Life Imitating Life Track List:
1. Ash and Ember
2. Need A Little Sunshine
3. Love In The Air
4. Youth Is Wasted On The Young
5. Say You Want Me
6. Fit Together
7. According To Plan
8. I Really Think So
9. Alive
10. Remember Me
Augustana Tour Dates
April 18 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
April 19 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
April 21 – Dallas, TX – Trees
April 22 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Upstairs
April 23 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 25 – Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom
April 26 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
April 27 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
April 28 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
April 30 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
May 2 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
May 3 – Vancouver, B.C. – Venue
May 4 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
May 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
May 7 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
May 9 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
May 10 – Chicago, IL – Double Door
May 12 – Toronto, ON – Virgin Mobile Mod Club
May 13 – Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa
May 16 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
May 17 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
May 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of the Living Arts
May 19 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club