Justin Jacobs

As my corner of the Midwest gets walloped by one of the biggest snowstorms we’ve seen in years, I spent my morning building a snowman, shoveling the walks, and sipping some hot cocoa. I have to admit these kinds of days put me in a bit of a nostalgic mood. Well, sometimes the universe can be the great bartender that knows just what the moment calls for.

I was delighted to see two of my favorite artists Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield) and MJ Lenderman team up on a new single, “Right Back to It,” a song about the anxiety of trying to rekindle an old relationship, and what a blessing it is have someone who makes that process easy. The duo sings, ‘You just just settle in like a song with no end. If I can keep up, we’ll get right back to it.” It’s a beautiful song that captures that wistful feeling looking back at old relationships can provoke.

Lenderman and Crutchfield have incredible chemistry. Katie maybe the best song writer of her generation. Her last album as Waxahatchee, St Cloud, was my favorite of 2020, and my appreciation for it has only grown in the years since. I think it’s a masterpiece. An album that feels so essential to warm summer nights and driving with the windows down.

The video, directed by Corbett Jones and Nick Simonite, is beautifully shot and features the duo sailing down a river on a pontoon boat, Katie singing and MJ shredding on his guitar while providing laid back harmony vocals. I love that Lenderman continues his boating theme. His last full-length album, Boat Songs, was one of my favorites of 2022. I talked a lot about Lenderman in my best of 2023 post, but I really believe he’s destined to become one of indie’s brightest stars, and this song will be a great introduction to the artist for anyone who missed out on his work with the group Wednesday, or his phenomenal solo works.

Waxahatchee’s new album Tigers Blood, comes out March 22 via Anti- Records. Just in time for summer.