THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Illuminati Hotties is the musical project founded by singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and tenderpunk pioneer Sarah Tudzin. Their new album Power — co-produced by Tudzin and John Congleton (St. Vincent, Death Cab For Cutie) features the Hotties’ trademark wit, vibrancy, and undeniable fun.
Of course, you might be forgiven if you don’t get that impression from Tudzin’s description of lead single Let Me In: “I find that something I have in common with most people that I talk to lately is the immense fear of and inability to be alone with ourselves,” she says. “Constant motion, avoidance, restlessness –— anything to keep myself from stagnating have always been my coping mechanisms when my inner monologue starts to get loud.”
Then there’s the life-and-death title track. “Power is a reckoning with mortality,” Tudzin admits. “It was the song I avoided writing every time I sat down with a guitar until it finally fell out of me. In it I’m asking over and over, how am I supposed to participate in earthly existence after the passing of my mom, who so selflessly gave me her confidence, who instilled my power? There is no answer and there is no sign.”
To support the album, the band will kick off a U.S./Canada headlining tour in September and stay on the road through November. Previous tours have found them sharing the stage with the likes Boygenius, Death Cab For Cutie, Julien Baker, The Linda Lindas, The Beths and Carly Rae Jepsen. Their songs have appeared in Fortnite and on Netflix. Their previous album, 2001’s Let Me Do One More, landed on multiple best-off lists, including mine. Tuzdin contributed a song for Star Wars spinoff show Ashoka, collabed with Canada’s own Duck’s Ltd., and has produced music for Pom Pom Squad, Speedy Ortiz and Boygenius. The latter was nominated for three Grammy Awards and won Best Alternative Music Album.”
