Empathogen (album)

Empathogen
Standard edition cover
Studio album by
Willow
ReleasedMay 3, 2024 (2024-05-03)
Genre
Length32:00
Label
Producer
Willow chronology
Coping Mechanism
(2022) 		Empathogen
(2024)
Singles from Empathogen
  1. "Symptom of Life"
    Released: March 12, 2024
  2. "Big Feelings"
    Released: April 11, 2024
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork6.8/10[2]
Sputnikmusic4.3/5[3]

Empathogen is the sixth studio album by American singer Willow.[4] It was released through Three Six Zero and Gamma on May 3, 2024.

Release and promotion

Willow released the song "Symptom of Life" on March 12, 2024. A music video directed by the artist herself accompanied the song's release.[5] Willow announced Empathogen on April 11, with a scheduled release date of May 3. Alongside the announcement, she released the second single "Big Feelings", which also featured a self-directed music video.[6][7] On May 1, NPR Music featured Willow in a Tiny Desk Concert ahead of the album's release, where she performed "Symptom of Life", "Big Feelings", and another track from the album, "Run!".[8] Empathogen was released on May 3, through Three Six Zero and Gamma.[2] A deluxe edition titled Ceremonial Contrafact was released on September 27, with three additional tracks.[9]

Track listing

Empathogen standard track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Home" (featuring Jon Batiste)
  • Smith
  • Batiste
  • Zach Brown[a]
3:03
2."Ancient Girl"SmithSmith1:30
3."Symptom of Life"
  • Smith
  • Greatti
3:09
4."The Fear Is Not Real"
  • Smith
  • Greatti
  • Smith
  • Greatti
3:38
5."False Self"
  • Taylor Gordon
  • Greatti
  • Smith
  • Greatti
2:52
6."Pain for Fun" (featuring St. Vincent)
  • Smith
  • Greatti
3:26
7."No Words 1 & 2"
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
1:24
8."Down"
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
1:11
9."Run!"
  • Smith
  • Greatti
  • Smith
  • Greatti
3:08
10."Between I and She"
  • Smith
  • Greatti
  • Rawk[a]
2:34
11."'I Know That Face.'"
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
1:50
12."Big Feelings"
  • Smith
  • Greatti
4:24
Total length:32:00
Ceremonial Contrafact (Empathogen deluxe) track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Wanted" (featuring Kamasi Washington)
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
2:39
14."Layers"
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
  • Smith
  • Benjamin
2:37
15."To You"
  • Smith
  • Antonio Mollura
  • Smith
1:30
Total length:39:03

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Musicians

  • Willow Smith – lead vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1, 2), background vocals (4, 5), electric guitar (4, 9)
  • Zach Brown – bass guitar, percussion (track 1)
  • Jon Batiste – drums, piano, vocals (track 1)
  • Chris Greatti – bass guitar (tracks 3–6, 9, 10, 12), guitar (3, 5), percussion (3–5, 9), acoustic guitar (4, 6, 9, 10), piano (9), electric guitar (10, 12)
  • Asher Bank – drums (tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12)
  • Brad Oberhofer – piano (track 3)
  • Zach Tenorio – piano, synthesizer (tracks 5, 6, 12); strings (5)
  • Annie Clark – vocals (track 6)
  • Eddie Benjamin – bass guitar, drums, guitar, synthesizer (tracks 7, 8, 11)
  • Elijah Rawk – acoustic guitar, bass guitar (track 10)

Technical

  • Joe LaPorta – mastering
  • Mitch McCarthy – mixing
  • Zach Brown – engineering (tracks 1, 2)
  • Adam Schoeller – engineering (track 3)
  • Chris Greatti – engineering (track 3)
  • Oscar Cornejo – engineering (track 11)

Charts

Chart performance for Empathogen
Chart (2024) Peak
position
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[10] 3

References

  1. ^ Pareles, Jon (May 10, 2024). "Post Malone Goes Country With Morgan Wallen, and 8 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Green, Dylan. "Willow: empathogen". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. ^ A.R.O. "Review: Willow Smith – Empathogen". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Empathogen Willow". AllMusic.
  5. ^ Mier, Tomás (March 12, 2024). "Willow Drops 'Symptom of Life,' a 'Whimsical' Single With a 'Lot of Mystery'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 8, 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Paul, Larisha (April 11, 2024). "Willow Processes 'Darkness and Complexity' on 'Big Feelings' From New Album 'Empathogen'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 8, 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Avila, Daniela (April 11, 2024). "Willow Shares 'Darkly Beautiful' Song 'Big Feelings' and Reveals Release Date for New Album empathogen". People. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Pointer, Ashley (May 1, 2024). "WILLOW: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR Music. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Abraham, Mya (September 27, 2024). "WILLOW, Gallant, Leon Thomas, And More New R&B For Lucid Dreams". Vibe. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Willow Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2024.