Rising alt-pop artist, Gus Dapperton has released his sprawling new album, HENGE today via Warner Records. The album is a widescreen look at dichotomies—life and death, the war between change and monotony, the cycle of love—that shows off his boundless musical curiosity and ability to seamlessly bring dynamic collaborators into his universe. It also arrives alongside an awe-inspiring new video for “Homebody“, which can also be seen below.
HENGE follows the journey of a single lost soul over the course of an evening in New York City, and is bookended by the upbeat “Sunset” and the meditative “Sunrise.” The latter track features critically acclaimed poet Ocean Vuong reciting a verse over blurry keyboards and synthesizers, grasping for meaning amidst “the dust of crushed hours.” Dapperton was gifted Vuong’s 2019 novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, and ironically while reading, he discovered that he was thanked by Ocean. Already fans of each other’s work, this inspired Gus to work with the MacArthur Fellow. The poem that results is an arresting end to an ambitious album and a stunning example of creative minds in sync.
Gus brings his vision to life in the new music video for “Homebody” where he concludes the conceptual journey that is HENGE. A long night in New York city creeps into the dawn hours as the sun rises and finds him galavanting on nearly empty sidewalks and dancing his way home. It’s both cathartic and thrilling to watch as the morning unfolds to the music.
Each song between “Sunset” and “Sunrise” captures a different series of thoughts about life’s dueling forces. “Don’t Let Me Down,” a duet with Dapperton’s “Supalonely” collaborator BENEE, is a disco-tinged conversation between two ex-lovers who are warily eyeing each other as they ponder whether or not to rekindle their trust. Elsewhere, Dapperton shows off his ability to create plush, large-scale pop of all types; on “Horizons,” neon-bright synths streak through the pulsing production, while “Wet Cement” blooms from a simple acoustic guitar-led track into a massive lament punctuated by an electric-guitar solo. “Homebody,” another standout, is a lush dance anthem about finding a connection under the disco ball.
Prior to HENGE, Gus released 2020’s Orca, which spawned the singles “First Aid,” “Post Humorous,” and “Bluebird.” On HENGE, Dapperton takes the next step with songs that are grandly catchy while having a yearning spirit. It’s an album that reminds listeners that time heals all wounds—but only if you make it home before the sun comes up.
U.S. HEADLINE TOUR
SEPT 14 BURLINGTON, VT – HIGHER GROUND
SEPT 15 MONTREAL, QC – LE STUDIO TD
SEPT 18 COLUMBUS, OH – NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
SEPT 19 INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DELUXE AT OLD NATIONAL CENTRE
SEPT 21 CHICAGO, IL – THALIA HALL
SEPT 22 MILWAUKEE, WI – TURNER HALL
SEPT 23 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FINE LINE
SEPT 26 VANCOUVER, BC – HOLLYWOOD THEATRE
SEPT 27 SEATTLE, WA – NEPTUNE
SEPT 28 PORTLAND, OR – WONDER BALLROOM
SEPT 30 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – BIMBO’S
OCT 1 SAN FRANCISCO – BIMBO’S
OCT 3 LOS ANGELES, CA – THE BELLWEATHER
OCT 4 SANTA ANA, CA – THE OBSERVATORY
OCT 5 PHOENIX, AZ – THE VAN BUREN
OCT 7 AUSTIN, TX – ACL MUSIC FESTIVAL
OCT 9 ST LOUIS, MO – DELMAR HALL
OCT 11 DENVER, CO – OGDEN THEATRE
OCT 14 AUSTIN, TX – ACL MUSIC FESTIVAL
OCT 16 BIRMINGHAM, AL – SATURN
OCT 17 CHARLOTTE, NC – NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE
OCT 18 CARRBORO, NC – CAT’S CRADLE
OCT 21 ASBURY PARK, NJ – ASBURY LANES
EUROPE HEADLINE TOUR
OCT 31 AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – TOLHUIS (PARADISO NOORD)
NOV 1 HAMBURG, GERMANY – NOCHTSPEICHER
NOV 2 BERLIN, GERMANY – MASCHINENHAUS
NOV 4 COLOGNE, GERMANY – HELIOS37
NOV 5 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – BOTANIQUE – ORANGERIE
NOV 6 PARIS, FRANCE – LA MAROQUINERIE
NOV 8 LONDON, UK – ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL