English Teacher announce their debut album, This Could Be Texas

Speaking ahead of their latest single, front-person Lily Fontaine revealed: “When people ask where I’m from I usually say I’m mixed race: half Yorkshire, half Lancashire. It allows me to divert with comedy from the potential connotations of that question, which change wildly depending on who’s asking it. One end of Albert Road in Colne (her hometown) is cold, underfunded and uninspiring; the other is warm at night with live music. It sums up how I look back on the place I lived for 19 years.”

Detailing the accompanying visuals, co-director Douglas Frost added: “This video, co-directed alongside the talented Sarah Oglesby at Sodium Films, represents the complex feelings of love one might have towards their hometown. I wanted ‘Albert Road’ to have a dream-like feel whilst keeping a firm grip on reality. That’s why we chose to film in one of our favourite pubs in Leeds, The Cardigan Arms-its classic interior was a great juxtaposition to the ethereal qualities of the video. There are also a few Easter eggs for those die hard English Teacher fans (if you’re out there please make contact). This is technically my directorial debut so sit back, shut up and be nice.”

This Could Be Texas explores themes such as a lack of belonging, collective anxiety and insecurity, as explained by Fontaine: “I want this album to feel like you’ve gone to space and it turns out it’s almost identical to Doncaster. It’s about in-betweens, it’s about home, and it’s about Desire Paths.” In several songs, Fontaine reflects on growing up as a mixed-race individual in a place, she says, “where many didn’t have any tolerance towards people who are different” in a post-Brexit landscape.

"Albert Road" is preceded by initial album reveals, "The World’s Biggest Paving Slab", Mastermind Specialism, and "Nearly Daffodils", the forthcoming release is set to follow on from the band's debut EP, Polyawkward.

Fontaine will also be DJ-ing at BBC 6 Music Festival in Manchester this March, before the band embark on their biggest UK headline tour to date later in the spring to coincide with their album release, including a show at London's Brixton Electric on 29 May, including stops in Brighton, Manchester, Glasgow, and Dublin.

Tracklist:

1. Albatross
2. The World’s Biggest Paving Slab
3. Broken Biscuits
4. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying
5. Mastermind Specialism
6. This Could Be Texas
7. Not Everybody Gets To Go To Space
8. R&B
9. NearlyDaffodils
10. The Best Tears Of Your Life
11. You Blister My Paint
12. Sideboob
13. Albert Road