Lindsey Byrnes
Courtney Barnett unveils new tracks, “Mantis” and “Sugar Plum"
Courtney Barnett has shared two new songs from her upcoming album Creature of Habit, "Mantis" and "Sugar Plum".
The new tracks follow previous singles “Stay in Your Lane” and “Site Unseen (feat. Waxahatchee)”. "Sugar Plum" chronicles Barnett's long-time struggle with self-doubt before arriving at a sense of optimism, adding to the album's overall focus on how to get out of your own way.
Meanwhile, "Mantis" is what Barnett describes as the centrepiece of Creature Of Habit, allowing her to navigate her way through the album. Discussing the song, Barnett explains: "Mantis is the microcosmic centerpiece of this album, it embodies the message and meaning of every track. It’s a song about searching, and it helped me find my way through Creature Of Habit. I was feeling particularly lost while I was working on this song."
"One day, I was standing in the kitchen, making a coffee, when I noticed a little green praying mantis sitting on top of the doorframe," she continues. "I had never seen one there in the desert house, so I took it as an important sign from the universe. I texted a photo to Stella and she said it’s good luck, look it up! I did a quick search and found it to also represent patience, perseverance and a guide for those who needed direction. I stood and spoke to the mantis for a while, it was a strange and enlightening moment that I’ll never forget. Eventually, I got back to writing, and finally I had the chorus to this song."
Creature of Habit is released on March 27 via Fiction Records
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