Today, Fontaines D.C. have shared their latest single, ‘Here’s The Thing’, the third to be taken from their upcoming fourth album ROMANCE – set for release on August 23rd via XL Recordings.
Written just days before the band entered the studio to record the album, ‘Here’s The thing’ features mechanical, mutant guitar sounds reminiscent of Placebo and the electronic expressiveness of Shygirl and Eartheater.
Of the track, frontman Grian Chatten describes:
It’s an anxious tune that twists and turns in what it wants, back and forth between pain and numbness.
The captivating accompanying music video, directed by Luna Carmoon (Hoard, Shagbands, and Nosebleed), effectively captures the raw emotions and sense of unease conveyed within the song. Drawing inspiration from teen-horror classics such as The Lost Boys and Phenomena, the video transports viewers into the world of a traditional Irish Dancing competition, where disorder takes centre stage, unfolding through Carmoon’s distinctively eerie visual perspective.
On August 2nd, Fontaines D.C. announced that their biggest headline show to date will take place on Saturday, July 5th, 2025 at Finsbury Park in London. Performing to 45,000 people alongside a specially curated line-up of friends and collaborators, including Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap and Australian pub-rock band Amyl and the Sniffers, with more still to be announced. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Friday.
The track follows on from recent single, ‘Favourite’, the second to be lifted from their eagerly anticipated upcoming album, Romance, set for release August 23rd via XL Recordings, premiered live in Brooklyn earlier this year, ‘Favourite’ follows in the footsteps of the album’s lead single, ‘Starburser’, building more anticipation for the album.
Of the track, frontman Grian Chatten states that ‘Favourite’ has a ‘never-ending sound to it, a continuous cycle from euphoria to sadness, two worlds spinning forever’. The track is essentially a love song accompanied by a nostalgic music video documenting the band’s recent trip to Madrid. Madrid holds a special place for the band as guitarist Carlos O’Connell was born there. Additionally, it serves as a significant location for the band because it was the starting point for their very first tour. The city’s influence and sentimental value make it a nostalgic and meaningful location for the band.
In celebration of their album Romance, Fontaines D.C. are kicking off an extensive world tour beginning in the USA in September, then heading to Europe. The tour will culminate with the band’s first arena tour in the UK and Ireland, featuring two homecoming shows at Dublin’s 3Arena. The band is also currently on a series of summer shows and will headline The Park at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
New Album, Romance, out in August
Returning today with their first release since the success of 2022’s Skinty Fia, which reached Number 1 in the UK and Irish charts, Fontaines D.C. have announced details of their fourth studio album, Romance, set for release on August 23rd via the band’s new record label, XL Recordings, produced by James Ford.
Alongside the album announcement, the band have shared Romance’s lead single, ‘Starburster’. Inspired by a panic attack that lead singer Grian Chatten suffered outside of St. Pancras station, the track is Fontaines D.C.’s most expansive. The single arrives accompanied by its visual, a fever dream directed by Aube Perrie.
Of the album’s title, bassist Conor Deegan states
We’ve always had this sense of idealism and romance. Each album gets further away from observing that through the lens of Ireland, as directly as (Mercury Prize-nominated debut) Dogrel. The second album (the GRAMMY-nominated A Hero’s Death) is about that detachment, and the third (Skinty Fia) is about Irishness dislocated in the diaspora. Now we look to where and what else there is to be romantic about.
Vocalist Grian Chatten adds:
We say things on this record we’ve wanted to say for a long time. I never feel like it’s over, but it’s nice to feel lighter.
ROMANCE will be brought to life on a world tour beginning in the summer, with stopovers at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds Festivals and across Europe. UK and U.S. headline dates will be announced in due course.
Romance is available to pre-order on limited edition vinyl*.