Indie rock titans and eight-time GRAMMY nominees Death Cab for Cutie – Benjamin Gibbard, Nicholas Harmer, Jason McGerr, Dave Depper and Zac Rae – announce their 11th studio album, I Built You A Tower, set to be released on June 5 via ANTI-Records. This marks the band’s return to their independent roots after 20 years on Atlantic Records. Produced and engineered by John Congleton, the album was recorded in just three weeks at Animal Rites in Los Angeles and the band members’ homes across Seattle, Bellingham, Los Angeles, and Portland. Alongside the album announcement, Death Cab for Cutie shares the album’s first single, “Riptides.” Gibbard describes the song as exploring the challenge of dealing with personal struggles amidst global tragedy and loss. The album, I Built You A Tower, is a reflection on reconciling with past selves to locate a new future, a theme that resonates deeply with Gibbard as he navigated personal challenges while fronting both Death Cab and the Postal Service. The band’s recent anniversary tours for Transatlanticism and Plans have been pivotal in shaping the new album, allowing them to reconnect with their roots and the essence of their music. Gibbard emphasizes the importance of finding a space to process grief and loss, while the band collectively aims to capture the powerful energy of their live performances in this new work. I Built You A Tower is not merely a return to form but a reclamation of the core ethos that has defined Death Cab for Cutie’s 30-year history.
