Horsegirl — the New York-via-Chicago trio of best friends Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece — release the single/video for ‘Frontrunner,’ the final single off their upcoming sophomore album, Phonetics On and On, out this Friday via Matador Records.
‘Frontrunner,’ following previously released singles ‘Julie,’ ‘Switch Over,’ and ‘2468,’ showcases the confident simplicity in the band’s songwriting, calling to mind the playful and sparsely populated arrangements of bands like The Feelies and Young Marble Giants. Lyrically, the song leads us through familiar scenes of girlhood and youth, with Lowenstein tenderly singing about a quiet morning reading in bed with your partner sleeping beside you: “In the morning / When you’re sleeping / I can’t wait and I can’t wait to compromise / In the morning / When you’re sleeping – I can’t wait and I can’t wait.”
Directed and edited by the band, the ‘Frontrunner’ video depicts Lowenstein, Reece, and Cheng searching for one another in various locations throughout their hometown of Chicago.
Produced by Cate Le Bon and recorded at The Loft in Chicago, Horsegirl’s original and sonic home, Phonetics On and On explores the limits of the trio configuration— what if instead of filling out songs with distortion, they utilized the expanse that the three of them didn’t occupy? This question is the guiding force behind the record, and the songs are a testament to experimenting with space and texture while maintaining a pop song at the core. It’s an album to dance to, as Reece’s dancing drum melodies and Lowenstein’s bright guitar leads direct your attention to the band’s chemistry and mastery of form.
Praise for Horsegirl
“Chicago trio strip down their sound and embrace newfound minimalism, all while maintaining their idiosyncratic charm.”– Consequence, “The Most Anticipated Albums of 2025”
“A next step forward for a band with a long road ahead.”— Esquire
“Fresh, alive, and reimagined with exquisite taste.”— Vanity Fair
Watch the Video for ‘Switch Over’
Watch the Video for ‘2468’
Watch the Video for ‘Julie’
PHONETICS ON AND ON TRACKLIST
- Where’d You Go
- Rock City
- In Twos
- 2468
- Well I Know You’re Shy
- Julie
- Switch Over
- Information Content
- Frontrunner
- Sport Meets Sound
- I Can’t Stand To See You
Horsegirl Online
