Christmas came a little early for fans of indie and alternative artists with Nashville ties. After debuting a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Julien Baker and TORRES released their country single “Sugar in the Tank,” the first taste of a long-rumored collaboration album.
The steady-rolling song is a change of pace for both artists, with pedal steel and banjo backing up simple, sweet lyrics promising serious devotion to a lover in the face of hesitation. The combination of TORRES’ low croon and Baker’s earnest high harmony communicate a desperation beyond words, as they sing: “I hate just watching through the window when you pull up / And I’m still thinking I should stay home / Come on baby, put a little sugar in the tank / And I love you all the way.”
Though it’s the artists’ first foray into the genre’s twangiest regions, the song is a masterful ode to classic country love songs. And while TORRES (aka Mackenzie Scott) has written plenty of hopeful romantic tunes — see 2021’s Thirstier — this may be the first time Julien Baker has put out an upbeat song, at least without her boygenius bandmates. It’s nice to switch it up sometimes!
Decked out with bolo ties and Nudie suits, the duo christened the tune with a live debut on Fallon on Tuesday and the track hit streaming services Friday. They’ve also announced a run of festival dates next year, including a stop at Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival in March. You can keep an eye for further dates and music announcements on their website, or by following Baker and TORRES on Instagram.
