Today, Whitney share their breezy new single “Back To The Wind” alongside a skate video directed and shot by Alex Pennacchia. The track is the latest from the Chicago duo’s recently announced new album, Small Talk due 7thNovember via AWAL. Small Talk, a return to form for the band, is their fourth and unequivocally best and most affecting album.
“I think what’s stuck with me most about ‘Back To The Wind’ is the way the imagery ended up unfolding across the instrumental. In the past we’ve always insisted that each word on a lyric sheet so deliberately leads you back to the sentiment of the hook that it almost leaves no room for imagination. With ‘BTTW’ it felt more compelling to steer the second half into a series of images that might mean something different to each person that hears it. And since this was the first song we wrote for the record, I think it informed the way we pushed ourselves to explore and dig deeper lyrically overall. Also Max’s guitar solo goes crazy,” says Julien Ehrlich.
The band have also announced a world tour that includes an April 17 show at the Concert Hall in Toronto along with a February UK headline run that will kick off on 22nd February 2026 in Manchester and goes through until 28th February 2026, including an intimate show at Hackney Church in London, in addition to EU, Australian, and numerous other North American dates.
Whitney will also be playing a special hometown show in Chicago to celebrate Empty Bottle’s 33 & 1/3 Anniversary on 2nd November. Tickets are available now via whitneytheband.com/shows. All dates below.
WATCH THE “BACK TO THE WIND” VIDEO
[Embed: https://youtu.be/nc05ODwX4rc]
After a decade of being roommates and bandmates, first in Smith Westerns and then in Whitney, Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek entered the studio in the Summer of 2024 to begin recording Small Talk sans-producer, with assorted pals dropping in to add parts. The result is 11 incandescent songs that delight on two levels. There are instant classic Whitney songs here, tunes that tug at the same heartfelt melodic strings they’ve always pulled, and still other moments that speak to how much room they gave themselves to evolve. Pre-order your copy of Small Talk on 140g LP “Crimson Moon” or “Bone” vinyl now via their website.
Whitney was formed in Chicago in 2015 by former Smith Westerns guitarist Max Kakacek and Unknown Mortal Orchestra drummer Julien Ehrlich. Known for their warm, soulful sound and introspective songwriting, Whitney quickly gained acclaim with their debut album, Light Upon the Lake (2016), which featured the standout single “No Woman.” The record established the band as a critical and fan favourite, with Pitchfork giving it it’s Best New Music distinction (8.3) and saying, “you’ll find the songs to be near flawless. Low-key perfectionism is perhaps a humbler virtue than seeking the big, dynamic splash. But it has a way of sneaking in past our defences and lingering longer—before we know, we’ve been singing under our breath for the better part of a year.”
Following their breakthrough, Whitney released Forever Turned Around (2019), further cementing their reputation for heartfelt, meticulously crafted music. They continued to evolve their sound with Candid (2020), an album of reimagined covers, and Spark (2022), which introduced a bolder, more expansive sonic palette. With sold-out tours across North America and Europe and performances at major festivals like Coachella and Pitchfork, Whitney has built a devoted following and continues to push the boundaries of modern indie music.
SMALL TALK TRACK LIST:
Silent Exchange
Won’t You Speak Your Mind
The Thread
Damage
Dandelions
Islands (Really Something)
In The Saddle
Evangeline (Ft. Madison Cunningham)
Back To The Wind
Small Talk
Darling
WHITNEY WORLD TOUR DATES:
US/CAN
Sat Sept 13 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
Sun Nov 2 – Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle – (Early Show)
Sun Nov 2 – Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle – SOLD OUT
Sat Mar 7- Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
Sun Mar 8- Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Wed Mar 11- Felton, CA @ Felton Music Hall
Thurs Mar 12- San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Fri Mar 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
Sat Mar 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
Tues April 7 – Kingston, NY @ Assembly
Wed April 8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Thurs April 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri April 10 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Sat, April 11 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Sun April 12 – Portland, ME @ The State Theatre
Tues April 14 – Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall
Wed April 15 – Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
Thurs April 16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Cafe
Fri April 17 – Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall
Sat April 18 – Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield
AUS
Thur Oct 16 – Brisbane @ Crowbar
Fri Oct 17 – Melbourne @ Corner Hotel,
Sat Oct 18 – Sydney @ SXSW, Tumbalong Park
UK/EU
Fri Feb 6 – Paris @ Gaite Lyrique
Sat Feb 7 – Lyon @ Epicerie Moderne
Sun Feb 8 – Milan @ Magnolia (main room)
Tue Feb10 – Geneva @ Antigel Festival 2026
Wed Feb 11 – Munich @ Hansa 39
Thurs Feb 12 – Berlin @ Lido
Sat Feb14 – Copenhagen @ DR Studie 2
Sun Feb 15 – Hamburg @ Knust
Tues Feb 17 – Brussels @ AB Ballroom
Wed Feb18 – Utrecht @ Tivoli Vredenburg (Pandora Hall)
Thurs Feb 19 – Cologne @ Gebäude 9
Sat Feb 21 – Dublin 1 @ The Academy Dublin
Sun Feb 22- Manchester @ Band on the Wall
Tues Feb 24 – Glasgow @ The Art School
Thurs Feb 26 – Bristol @ Electric Bristol
Fri Feb 27 – London @ Hackney Church
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