Liz Lawrence has unveiled details of her new album 'Vespers', dedicated to her late sister Jessie who died in 2024. The record, set for release on June 5 via Chrysalis Records, explores grief following Jessie's accident and death at age 35. Lawrence shared the emotive first single 'Black Ulysses' along with three other tracks on March 30.
Liz Lawrence announced her fifth studio album, 'Vespers', which she describes as a record of tragedy, life, and death. 'It is dedicated to my beautiful sister Jessie and her too-short life,' Lawrence said in a statement. The album follows her previous releases 'Peanuts', 'The Avalanche', 'Pity Party', and 'Bedroom Hero' and was written over three weeks, six months after Jessie's passing. Lawrence learned of her sister's serious accident in Ireland during a festival in summer 2024 and rushed there, only for Jessie to die aged 35 in intensive care. 'What followed was the most profoundly altering period of my life,' she explained, reflecting on the beauty of dying and resilience of the living. To introduce 'Vespers', Lawrence released four songs on March 30: 'Black Ulysses', 'Mt. Nephin', 'Where Did You Go', and 'Sister', intended as an entry point to the album. She hopes the record provides comfort amid grief, noting a lack of similar works by women. 'I want people to use this record... to give comfort and catharsis,' Lawrence said. After Jessie's death, she struggled to listen to music and sought out grief-themed albums online. Lawrence will perform 'Vespers' in full at two intimate solo shows: June 9 at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester and June 10 at the Courtyard Theatre in London. Pre-sale tickets go on sale April 7 at 10am, with general sale April 8.
