NEWS : WED, SEP 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Watch Flock of Dimes’ “Defeat” (Lyric Video)
Flock of Dimes today shares a new single and lyric video for “Defeat,” a sublime new offering from her forthcoming album The Life You Save, out worldwide Friday, October 10th, from Sub Pop.
The absorbing new visual feature is directed and edited by digital artist and animator Sabrina Nichols, shot by frequent video collaborator Spence Kelly (“Long After Midnight,” “Afraid”), and features Flock of Dimes’ Jenn Wasner throughout.
Wasner says of “Defeat,“ This song represents a moment of total surrender. It’s about the moment I finally allowed myself to accept my own powerlessness, and started the process of learning how to step back and allow others to face the consequences of their actions. It features a moment of melodic counterpoint that became a sort of mantra for myself as I attempted to make my way through this process—I’m inside it, after all. This realization—kindly first introduced to me by someone I love who sees me clearly—was something of a breakthrough for me. Learning to see myself as a part of a dynamic (rather than separate, having escaped) was an important step in changing my own behavior—which is, ultimately, the only real agent of change over which I have any sort of control. Three years after I wrote it, the work continues—I am still working on trying to see myself not as some kind of savior figure, but just another flawed human being, doing her best.”
Flock of Dimes will support The Life You Save with headlining US tour dates in November and December. The east coast run begins Thursday, November 6th in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s and ends Wednesday, November 12th in Saxapahaw, NC at Haw River Ballroom. The west coast run will start Monday, December 1 in Seattle, WA at Barboza and runs through Friday, December 5th in Los Angeles, CA at Zebulon. Tickets are on sale now.
The absorbing new visual feature is directed and edited by digital artist and animator Sabrina Nichols, shot by frequent video collaborator Spence Kelly (“Long After Midnight,” “Afraid”), and features Flock of Dimes’ Jenn Wasner throughout.
Wasner says of “Defeat,“ This song represents a moment of total surrender. It’s about the moment I finally allowed myself to accept my own powerlessness, and started the process of learning how to step back and allow others to face the consequences of their actions. It features a moment of melodic counterpoint that became a sort of mantra for myself as I attempted to make my way through this process—I’m inside it, after all. This realization—kindly first introduced to me by someone I love who sees me clearly—was something of a breakthrough for me. Learning to see myself as a part of a dynamic (rather than separate, having escaped) was an important step in changing my own behavior—which is, ultimately, the only real agent of change over which I have any sort of control. Three years after I wrote it, the work continues—I am still working on trying to see myself not as some kind of savior figure, but just another flawed human being, doing her best.”
Flock of Dimes will support The Life You Save with headlining US tour dates in November and December. The east coast run begins Thursday, November 6th in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s and ends Wednesday, November 12th in Saxapahaw, NC at Haw River Ballroom. The west coast run will start Monday, December 1 in Seattle, WA at Barboza and runs through Friday, December 5th in Los Angeles, CA at Zebulon. Tickets are on sale now.
Thu. Nov. 06 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
Fri. Nov. 07 - New Haven, CT - Space Ballroom
Sat. Nov. 08 - Brooklyn, NY - National Sawdust
Sun. Nov. 09 - Somerville, MA - The Rockwell
Tue. Nov. 11 - Washington, DC - The Atlantis
Wed. Nov. 12 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
Mon. Dec. 01 - Seattle, WA - Barboza
Tue. Dec. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Thu. Dec. 04 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
Fri. Dec. 05 - Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon
Fri. Nov. 07 - New Haven, CT - Space Ballroom
Sat. Nov. 08 - Brooklyn, NY - National Sawdust
Sun. Nov. 09 - Somerville, MA - The Rockwell
Tue. Nov. 11 - Washington, DC - The Atlantis
Wed. Nov. 12 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
Mon. Dec. 01 - Seattle, WA - Barboza
Tue. Dec. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Thu. Dec. 04 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
Fri. Dec. 05 - Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon
Flock of Dimes’ The Life You Save features the aforementioned “Defeat,” along with standouts “Afraid,” “Keep Me In The Dark,” and its lead single and official video for “Long After Midnight.”
The Life You Save is available to preorder now on CD/LP/all DSPs from Sub Pop. LP purchased from megamart.subpop.com in North America, MegaMart Europe in the UK + EU, and your local record store, will receive the limited Loser Edition on Citrus (NA) or Pearl (UK/EU) vinyl (all vinyl color editions whilst stock lasts!).
What People Are Saying About Flock of Dimes:
“Her thoughtful, intricately layered ballads on The Life You Save, grapple with codependency, addiction, responsibilities and limits, with how much anyone can help someone they cherish.” New York Times
“Clear-eyed and unflinching… She articulates her feelings in lush folk ballads, whose effortless warmth belie the challenges facing Wasner.” - [The Life You Save] 8/10, Uncut
“Another warm, twilit ballad.... In the video, directed by Spencer Kelly, Wasner is surrounded by projections of her younger self. It looks as pretty as the music sounds.” [“Afraid”] - Stereogum
“Beautiful new song ‘Long After Midnight’ is sharply poetic, the dulcet acoustic guitar line reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s jazz-adjacent chording. The tender, single-take visual stars Jenn and is directed by Spence Kelly – highly evocative, it feels like a courageous step forwards.” CLASH
“A beautiful acoustic meditation about offering help against your better judgement.” [“Long After Midnight”] The Guardian
“In true Wasner fashion, it’s honest, raw, and beautiful.” [“Long After Midnight”]
The AV Club
“Her thoughtful, intricately layered ballads on The Life You Save, grapple with codependency, addiction, responsibilities and limits, with how much anyone can help someone they cherish.” New York Times
“Clear-eyed and unflinching… She articulates her feelings in lush folk ballads, whose effortless warmth belie the challenges facing Wasner.” - [The Life You Save] 8/10, Uncut
“Another warm, twilit ballad.... In the video, directed by Spencer Kelly, Wasner is surrounded by projections of her younger self. It looks as pretty as the music sounds.” [“Afraid”] - Stereogum
“Beautiful new song ‘Long After Midnight’ is sharply poetic, the dulcet acoustic guitar line reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s jazz-adjacent chording. The tender, single-take visual stars Jenn and is directed by Spence Kelly – highly evocative, it feels like a courageous step forwards.” CLASH
“A beautiful acoustic meditation about offering help against your better judgement.” [“Long After Midnight”] The Guardian
“In true Wasner fashion, it’s honest, raw, and beautiful.” [“Long After Midnight”]
The AV Club
Flock of Dimes
The Life You Save
Tracklisting:
1. Afraid
2. Keep Me in the Dark
3. Long After Midnight
4. Defeat
5. Close to Home
6. The Enemy
7. Not Yet Free
8. Pride
10. Theo
11. Instead of Calling
12. River in My Arms
13. I Think I’m God
The Life You Save
Tracklisting:
1. Afraid
2. Keep Me in the Dark
3. Long After Midnight
4. Defeat
5. Close to Home
6. The Enemy
7. Not Yet Free
8. Pride
10. Theo
11. Instead of Calling
12. River in My Arms
13. I Think I’m God