By Micah Organ, Contributor
[Photo courtesy of Julia Khorosilov]

Frances Quinlan, lead singer and founder of Philadelphia indie rock outfit Hop Along, announced on October 22 that she would release her debut solo album, Likewise, on January 31, 2020, on Saddle Creek. Quinlan also released the first single off of Likewise, “Rare Thing,” on October 22 and announced a headlining tour in support of the upcoming album.

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Likewise will be Quinlan’s first album released under her own name, though Hop Along began as her solo project. The album was recorded with the help of fellow Hop Along member Joe Reinhart and includes synthesizers, harps, strings, a variety of keyboards and digital beats, the combination of which is a departure from the sonic landscape in which Quinlan typically works. Lyrically, the debut explores the relatable nature of struggling to communicate and connect with other people.

Released on October 22, the forthcoming album’s first single, “Rare Thing,” details a dream about Quinlan’s niece told over a shimmering soundscape of percussion, bass, and harps. The song shifts continuously between joyousness and melancholy over its duration. 

In addition to the release of “Rare Thing” and the album announcement, Quinlan has also unveiled plans for a headlining tour. Tickets officially go on sale at 10 a.m. PST on Friday, October 25, and more tour dates and cities will be added in the near future.

Check out Quinlan’s solo tour dates:

01/19/20 – Chicago, IL @ Tomorrow Never Knows Festival at Sleeping Village
03/01/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop at Swedish American Music Hall
03/03/20 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
03/05/20 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
03/12/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Pico Union Project
03/14/20 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah

And stream “Rare Thing” below: