[Cover photo credit to Kimberly Ha]

After 20 years in music, the artist Thao has “ceremonially shed the band name.” She has shared her first new single in six years, “Fossils”, released via previous label home Kill Rock Stars, alongside an official video.

“Fossils” features the vocals of Thao and her co-Producers Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner of Tune-Yards, then her Bay Area Monday Night Dinner crew (including chef and Salt Fat Acid Heat author Samin Nosrat, writer Sarah Rich, and KQED Forum host Alexis Madrigal) then a group of friends and their children, colleagues and fans who sent in recordings. The resulting song “implores us and herself to stay open to love and each other.”

Thao says of the song:

Fossils is both a red-flag warning and an encouragement. I’m saying I can see it all, I can zoom out and up and see how I and we will have reached the end, frozen in these protective stances. The danger of underliving our lives is real, is in every isolationist choice we make. However, we can continually decide to be different. It takes enormous amounts of work to metabolize fear instead of being based in it. It is so easy to slip into the grooves of self protection.

Fans can Thao’s live show as she hits the road this weekend supporting Lord Huron.

Tour Dates – TICKETS

6/13: Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic

6/14: Asheville, NC @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena #

6/16: Charleston, NC @ Credit One Stadium #

6/18: Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavilion #

6/19: Richmond, VA @ Virginia Credit Union LIVE! At Richmond Raceway #

6/21: Greenfield, MA @ Green River Festival

6/23: Bangor, ME @ Maine Savings Amphitheater #

6/24: Pawtucket, RI @ The Met

6/25: New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl #

6/26: Atlantic City, NJ @ Ovation Hall at Ocean City Casino Resort #

# = supporting Lord Huron