Doves have shared a new single titled ‘A Drop In The Ocean’ – you can listen to it below.
The track serves as the final preview of the band’s sixth studio album ‘Constellations For The Lonely’, which is set for release tomorrow (February 28) via EMI North (pre-order here).
In a statement, drummer Andy Williams explained: “It’s a song about us being insignificant, which can be helpful to remember when you’re going through a tough time. A problem can be so big in your head, but it can be comforting to remember how small we are in the grand scheme of things.”
Guitarist Jez Williams added: “I brought the music but Jimi [Goodwin, frontman] completely did the verses.
“I knew he had it in him, because he always has the words in him. He’s a great lyricist, the real deal. The song lit him up when he heard it, you could really see it. We all remember that moment.”
The atmospheric and existential track presents a vast soundscape, and includes the hopeful line: “The flowers beneath the waves/ Will come back one day.” Its chorus goes: “You are the reason/ You are the air/ A drop in the ocean/ But you’re not there/ A drop in the ocean.”
Check out the official music video here:
‘A Drop In The Ocean’ follows on from the singles ‘Renegade’, ‘Cold Dreaming’ and ‘Saint Theresa’ in previewing the imminent ‘Constellations For The Lonely’.
The record is the follow-up to Doves’ Number One 2020 album ‘The Universal Want’ – which itself marked the group’s first full-length release in 11 years, following 2009’s ‘Kingdom Of Rust’.
Doves are currently out on a UK headline tour without frontman Jimi Goodwin, who is continuing to work on his mental health. Last November, Goodwin was absent from the band’s first UK gigs since 2019.
Speaking about ‘Constellations…’ during an interview with NME in late 2024, Jez Williams explained: “This is quite a dark album. We started to write it after we cancelled The Universal Want’ tour, so some of the songs reflect that.
“We wanted ‘Renegade’ to start with this apocalyptic atmosphere. That’s what felt right for us after such a difficult time. Jimi was with us, but we were trying to make sense of all the mess – and that fed into the album.”
He continued: “We’re living in pretty fucking horrible times, so we wanted to reflect that but give a little hope. When you listen to Neil Young, it feels like he understands you. It’s music that can hold your hand in this dark world. I see this as a future soul album for outsiders. We want you to feel understood.”
The musician also told NME that Goodwin was “still working on his sobriety and mental health”, after Doves cancelled all their scheduled live performances in 2021.
“When we cancelled ‘The Universal Want’ tour, people were really fucked off that they’d bought these tickets after waiting for us since 2010, just for us to cancel,” Williams told NME.
“People just want to hear the songs. We never got to play that album live. Jimi’s not ready, but he gave us his blessing, so we’re going to take the songs out live with us.”
Doves’ current tour includes a show at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on March 13. See the full schedule, and find any remaining tickets here.
The post Listen to Doves’ existential new single ‘A Drop In The Ocean’ appeared first on NME.
