The record is set to arrive on Dec. 6
In July 2023, Lauren Mayberry took the first step towards building her musical identity on her own as she announced plans to move away from Chvrches for a while. What followed was a string of singles that positioned the electro-pop band’s frontwoman as a soloist for the first time. The latest is a record titled “Crocodile Tears,” which arrives alongside the announcement of Mayberry’s solo debut album Vicious Creature, out Dec. 6.
With “Crocodile Tears,” Mayberry gave herself permission to dismiss the boundaries of expected behavior. Written with Matthew Koma and Ethan Gruska, the track finds the singer playing a character who doesn’t feel obligated to always lead with kindness in the face of disrespect. “I think that holds so many women back in their lives,” Mayberry shared in a statement. “If I didn’t have to be seen as ‘nice,’ I would feel comfortable telling certain people to fuck off when they treat me like shit — on this record, and in these songs, I get to do that.”
“Crocodile Tears” joins the previously released singles “Something in the Air,” “Shame,” “Change Shapes,” and “Are You Awake.” All of the tracks will appear on Vicious Creature alongside seven previously unreleased songs.
“So much of this process has been an exercise in empowering myself to listen to my own intuition — something I really trained myself out of,” Mayberry said. “That’s ultimately why you start making things — because you felt a feeling, and you wanted to articulate that somehow. I think it was important for me to relearn that kind of independence, and recognize what I bring to any table I choose to sit at.”
In January, Mayberry will take Vicious Creature on the road. Her North American tour will begin on Jan. 28 in San Diego and conclude on March 2 in Los Angeles. The singer will make stops in Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Phoenix, and more cities.
