Mackenzie Scott is primed to explode. Making music since 2012 under the moniker TORRES, that explosion might refer to her combustible stage performance or her rocket-like trajectory as she prepares to release her sophomore album Sprinter on May 5th via Partisan Records. After her self-titled debut garnered near-unanimous acclaim and got her noticed by the likes of Sharon Van Etten (who invited her both to guest-star on SVE’s Are We There as well as tour with her in support of the record), the Brooklynite snagged production help from Rob Ellis, who’s best known for his work with none other than PJ Harvey. It’s easy to draw comparisons between TORRES’ sound and that of Polly Jean; both women have a raw, aggressive approach to both vocals and lyrics that’s particularly stirring. Though Scott was born in 1991, the grunge-era influence can be felt in every searing guitar riff and in every powerful, distorted utterance.
NPR, Rolling Stone, and a bevy of others have named TORRES on their lists of must-see acts at SXSW, but even if you can’t get down to Austin, you can check out the video for latest Sprinter single “Strange Hellos,” directed by Casey Pierce. As the song’s title suggests, the track and its accompanying visuals are a healthy mix of beckoning and foreboding. Dramatic lighting illuminates Scott’s steady gaze, the musculature of her voice and silhouette mirroring one another in the opening verses. By the time the jagged riffs of the chorus open up, Scott’s face is bathed in projections from 2001: A Space Odyssey as she bellows “What’s mine isn’t really yours/But I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
TORRES isn’t stopping with SXSW, she’ll be taking much of the US and parts of Canada by storm as she tours in support of Sprinter this May and June. Dates for the tour are below.
Tue-Mar-17 Austin, TX Ground Control Party at The Mohawk – SXSW
Wed-Mar-18 Austin, TX Central Presbyterian Church – SXSW
Wed-Mar-18 Austin, TX Pitchfork Party at The Mohawk – SXSW
Thu-Mar-19 Austin, TX AV Club Party at Cheer Up Charlie’s – SXSW
Fri-Mar-20 Austin, TX Culture Collide / Doc Martens Party at Bar 96 – SXSW
Sat-Mar-21 Austin, TX The Wild Honey Pie Party at Scoot Inn – SXSW
Sat-Mar-21 Austin, TX Under The Radar Party at Central Presbyterian Church – SXSW
Mon-May-04 Saxapahaw, NC Haw River Ballroom
Wed-May-06 Nashville, TN The Stone Fox
Fri-May-08 Dallas, TX Club Dada
Sat-May-09 Austin, TX The Mohawk
Mon-May-11 Scottsdale, AZ Pub Rock Live
Tue-May-12 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
Wed-May-13 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
Fri-May-15 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
Sat-May-16 Seattle, WA Barboza
Sun-May-17 Vancouver, BC Electric Owl
Wed-May-20 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry
Thu-May-21 Chicago, IL The Empty Bottle
Fri-May-22 Detroit, MI UFO Factory
Sat-May-23 Toronto, ON The Garrison
Wed-May-27 Brooklyn, NY Baby’s All Right
Thu-Jun-25 Allston, MA Great Scott
Fri-Jun-26 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Sat-Jun-27 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
Sun-Jun-28 Washington, DC DC9
Tue-Jun-30 Durham, NC The Pinhook
Wed-Jul-01 Atlanta, GA The Earl
Thu-Jul-02 Chattanooga, TN Rhythm & Brews
