Melt Announces Debut Album ‘If There is a Heaven,’ Releases Lead Single ‘Plant the Garden’Melt Announces Debut Album ‘If There is a Heaven,’ Releases Lead Single ‘Plant the Garden’ Indie band Melt from New York has unveiled their highly anticipated debut studio album, “If There is a Heaven,” set for release on September 13, 2024. About the Album Recorded live on tape with producer Sam Evian, “If There is a Heaven” features an eclectic mix of 11 tracks that span from soulful pop anthems to emotional ballads and infectious rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a soundtrack for personal growth, self-discovery, and finding one’s community. Lead Single: ‘Plant the Garden’ The album’s lead single, “Plant the Garden,” showcases Melt’s signature ’80s pop sonics and a cathartic chorus. Its lyrics explore the complexities of letting go and the realization that holding onto harmful things is often self-destructive. Tour Announcement To coincide with the album release, Melt has announced a nationwide tour spanning October 3 to November 16. The tour will feature support from MARIS and make stops in major cities like Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville, and more. Band Members Melt consists of Veronica Stewart-Frommer (vocals), Marlo Shankweiler (guitar), Erik Gabriel (piano), and Luke Sauer (bass), along with album/tour drummer Andres Valbuena. Previous Work and Influences Melt gained viral success with their early hit “Sour Candy,” released in high school. After a hiatus for college, they returned in 2021 with their EP “West Side of Highway.” The band’s music is influenced by a wide range of artists, including Neil Young, Sam Evian, and Haim.
To meltthe indie formation from New York that has been slowly making a name for itself for years with its compelling mix of soul, rock and pop, has announced the upcoming release of its debut studio album, If there is a heavenexpected on September 13, 2024. Together with the announcement of If there is a heaventhe band announced a lengthy fall 2024 tour and released the LP’s lead single, “Plant the Garden.”
If there is a heavenrecorded live on tape with producer Sam Evian, features 11 songs that range from existential, feel-good pop songs to poignant ballads to lush, soulful rock ‘n’ roll. The album is a soundtrack for coming of age and finding yourself and your community. The album represents the culmination of a process that began seven years ago with the release of Melt’s viral hit ‘Sour Candy’, written and recorded when the band members were still in the highest circles. school. After spending the next five years studying at separate colleges and getting together on weekends to play shows, the group released its album West side of highway EP in 2021 and toured nationwide, further developing the members’ intuitive creative relationship and cementing Melt as a band on the rise.
Related: Melt Reinterprets Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” as a Soul-Rock Howl in Live Studio Video (Watch)
The album’s first single, “Plant the Garden”, was recorded in April 2023 with Sam Evian at Flying Cloud Studios in the Catskills. The experience was so positive and compelling, singer Veronica Stewart-Frommmer explained to Live for live musicthat Melt decided to return to Flying Cloud in December 2023 to record the entire album.
The new song, out now, uses ’80s pop sonics and a cathartic, sing-along chorus to illustrate lyrical themes that explore the complications of letting go. As Stewart-Frommer said Live for live music of the song’s meaning: “’Plant the Garden’ is a song about holding on to the things that harm you – something that is usually a bad idea, yet such a common human experience. I wrote the lyrics while I was involved in a relationship that was taking a negative toll on both parties. It was clear that breaking off was the right thing to do, but the habit is strong and the fear of change is even stronger! To be honest, I was given a loving jab… I was so aware of the situation and yet I couldn’t let it go. It was like… “Well, what did you expect?” That’s where the punchline ‘that’s what you get, I told you so!’ came from.”
Click here to listen to “Plant the Garden” on the platform of your choice or pre-order If there is a heaven, Melt’s new album. Watch the official ‘Plant the Garden’ visualization video below.
Smelt – “Plant the garden” (Visualizer)
Smelt’s Veronica Stewart-Frommer (vocals), Marlo Shankweiler (guitar), Erik Gabriel (piano), and Luke Sauer (bass), along with album/tour drummer Andres Valbuenawill hit the road this fall in support of If there is a heaven. The national tour, with support from MARISwill kick off on October 3 in Indianapolis, IN’s Hi-Fi attachment and continues until November 16, when the band makes its homecoming with a performance in Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn steel.
Notable stops along the way include Chicago, IL’s Park West (10/4), Madison, WIs Afternoon salon (7/10), Denver, COs Ogden Theater (10/12), Seattle, WA Neumos (10/18), San Francisco, California The independent (10/22), Los Angeles, CA The Bellwether (10/24), Austin, Texas Antone’s Nightclub (29/10), Nashville, Tenn Cannery Hall – De Mil (11/1), Asheville, NC The Gray Eagle (2/11), Washington, DC 9.30am Club (7/11), Philadelphia, PAs Brooklyn Bowl Philly (11/8), and Boston, MAs Royal (11/9).
See a full list of upcoming Melt If there is a heaven tour dates below. For ticket information, please go here.
