PVRIS Lynn Gunn 2020 Use Me Lynn Gvnn
[Photo via YouTube]

PVRIS take driver’s seat in “Dead Weight,” announce third album ‘Use Me’

PVRIS have dropped their brand-new single “Dead Weight” and announced their third album, Use Me, out via Reprise/Warner Records May 1. Use Me marks the group’s shift into a darker realm of pop while showcasing frontwoman Lynn Gunn’s multidimensional skill set.

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“Dead Weight” finds Gunn physically and metaphorically getting in the driver’s seat as she takes command as the lead curator of the group.

“‘Dead Weight’ is about being a people pleaser, holding others up and never asking for anything back,” Gunn says. “Quite often that can be taken advantage of, and [it] can be hard to say ‘no’ [or] set boundaries. This feels amplified, especially as a woman. This song is about stepping into my power as a woman, shedding old skin and taking nurturing/caretaker feminine nature and turning it into a superpower.”

Embracing her role as the architect of PVRIS, Gunn worked alongside JT Daly during the writing and recording process and took on creating beats as well as playing guitar, drums, bass and singing on the album. Gunn proves on “Dead Weight” that she’s no longer interested in the preconceived notions of being a band but taking credit where credit is due.

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“I allowed myself to support a narrative I thought I had to support,” Gunn says. “I didn’t really have a role model for this. Coming from a ‘band culture,’ it’s about how the group is always greater than the sum of its parts, and you’re not supposed to take credit, even if you do everything. There’s no template or role model for really owning it as a woman. I wanted to make everyone else happy and uphold an image I thought we had to.

“Growing up, I learned I don’t have to do that anymore,” Gunn continues. “I’m finally allowing myself to take credit. I’ve got the full support and encouragement of my bandmates. PVRIS are a unit and very much a team, but the heart and soul of the vision and music always has sourced from me. I’m just saying it now. I fulfilled my own vision of what a role model should be.”

You can watch the video for “Dead Weight” below.

You can preorder Use Me here.

More on PVRIS

PVRIS began teasing fans earlier this week, directing them to a Spotify playlist titled “USE THIS.” The playlist currently features tracks from the band’s debut album, White Noise, including “You and I,” “Eyelids” “Mirrors” and “Empty.” It also features All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell’s “Separate.”

Shortly after PVRIS launched the playlist, fans started speculating that the group were cryptically teasing them with an upcoming release or announcement.

Before hitting the road with Halsey on the Manic tour alongside CHVRCHES and blackbear, PVRIS will be embarking on the Use Me tour. 

The band will be joined by Royal & The Serpent for the first half of the tour, while Eliza & The Delusionals will hop on for the second half. Tickets for the Use Me tour will be on sale Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m. local time.

Dates:

05/08 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall

05/09 – Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues

05/12 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic

05/14 – Harrisburg, PA @ Harrisburg University

05/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

05/19 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa

05/20 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head

05/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre

05/22 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom

05/24 – Boston, MA @ Boston Calling Festival

05/26 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

05/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

05/28 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic

05/30 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s

05/31 – Dallas, TX @ Canton

06/02 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren

06/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda

06/05 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades

06/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency

06/09 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom

06/10 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune

07/12 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage*

07/15 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium*

07/18 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center*

07/19 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion*

07/22 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre*

07/24 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena*

07/25 – Saint Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*

07/27 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre*

07/30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre*

08/01 – Irvine, CA @ Five Point Amphitheatre*

* with Halsey