London’s own shoegaze trailblazers Whitelands are entering 2026 with a formidable momentum. Today, the quartet unveiled their latest single, ‘Blankspace’, a hauntingly beautiful precursor to their highly anticipated second album, Sunlight Echoes, arriving January 30th via Sonic Cathedral.
While previous singles like ‘Songbird (Forever)’ and ‘Glance’ earned the band comparisons to "bright rays of sunshine on a frosty morning" from NME, ‘Blankspace’ reveals a grittier, more introspective side of the band’s palette. Premiered on Matt Wilkinson’s Apple Music 1 show, the track delves into the heavy themes of grief and mortality.
“I was faced with mortality and very difficult things,” shares frontman Etienne. “I’m still not sure how to talk about it.” Bassist Vanessa Govinden adds that the song became a vessel "to carry all of that heaviness." This emotional depth, paired with a striking visualiser by guitarist Michael Adelaja, cements Whitelands as a "heavyweight proposition," as recently noted by Uncut.
The Road to MOTH Club
The release of Sunlight Echoes kicks off an extensive tour across Europe and the UK, but for local fans, all eyes are on the grand finale. After traversing the continent and the north of England, Whitelands will return to their roots for a headline homecoming show at London’s MOTH Club on Thursday, 26th February.
Known for its gold-glittered ceilings and intimate atmosphere, MOTH Club provides the perfect backdrop for Whitelands' "devastating and sprawling" soundscapes (Stereogum). For a band that has spent the last year being hailed as one of the most exciting names in the new wave of British shoegaze, this London date serves as both a victory lap and a definitive statement of intent.
With Sunlight Echoes set to drop just days before the tour begins, the MOTH Club show promises to be a celebratory immersion into their new material.
Single: ‘Blankspace’ (Out Now)
Album: Sunlight Echoes (Released 30th January)
London Show: 26th February @ MOTH Club
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