The Sound Cafe

Jesse Malin Releases New Video + Spring UK Dates Announced Ahead Of Reissued Expanded Debut Album

Photo Credit: Vivian Wang.

New York City based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin has today issued a video for his current single, ‘Downliner (Afterglow Version)’. The song is available on the 20th Anniversary expanded edition of his debut album, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’, which includes a bonus disc of re-recordings and is released on 17th February to coincide with the start of a European tour (see full itinerary below) here in the UK.

Malin has also just announced five further UK shows in late May/early June:

30.05.23 BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds * tickets

31.05.23 HULL New Adelphi Club * tickets

01.06.23 OXTED Barn Theatre * tickets

02.06.23 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach * tickets

03.06.23 EUSTON HALL Red Rooster Festival (Thetford, Norfolk) tickets

* with support from Bason

The new video was filmed on Jesse’s home turf by Dave Stekert. Of the song itself, Malin explains that “it was one of the first that I wrote for the original album and it kinda came out in one shot. I felt like I was going into something new after being in a loud band for so many years and it is about finding a way to stay afloat when you feel like you are drowning. The new version was spontaneous and fun to sing to, with basic piano chords and cool fake drums giving it a sparse and dark vibe. Somehow it gave it a new life, but still retained the sadness and maybe even the hope that the original offered me.”

Following his teenage years in the pioneering hardcore band Heart Attack and his 20s fronting the wild and beloved D Generation, Malin had taken a cue from his songwriting heroes and was ready for the opportunity to stand alone. His solo debut was recorded over six days in New York City, live and raw. “I was still learning how to sing and tell stories," he recalls. "These songs were written in a little apartment downtown, without a record deal, a manager, or any expectation of anything coming of it - just a need to write them.”

As for its title, he adds that “it wasn’t named for drug or alcohol abuse, but more about personal wreckage when I looked back on my life, from my parents' divorce to failed relationships, broken up bands, dropping out of school, crashing cars, breaking things. It was more of a spiritual journey in some sense. This record is definitely one of my favourites.”

To celebrate its 20th anniversary reissue, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ has been reimagined and re-recorded with Malin’s longtime band, with all the songs made available across its 2xLP and digital formats. The bonus material was produced by Derek Cruz and engineered by Geoff Sanoff, who worked on Malin’s recent ‘Sunset Kids’ (2019) and ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ (2021) albums.

EUROPEAN TOUR : FEBRUARY & MARCH 2023

15.02.23 GLASGOW Stereo

16.02.23 MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room)

17.02.23 LONDON The Garage

18.02.23 PARIS (FR) La Boule Noire

19.02.23 UTRECHT (NL) dB's

22.02.22 SAVONA (IT) Raindogs House

23.02.23 BERGAMO (IT) Druso

24.02.23 RAVENNA (IT) Bronson

25.02.23 MARENO DI PIAVE, TV (IT) Corner Live

27.02.23 HAMBURG (DE) Nochtspeicher

28.02.23 COPENHAGEN (DK) Hotel Cecil