“The New Orleans–born singer’s album interprets the city’s storied parades with futuristic R&B and electronic beats… Ms. Richard has made consistently strong work as a solo artist, but this sumptuous swirl of styles and perspectives just might be her best record, and it’s the perfect starting place for those new to her music.” —Wall Street Journal

“Though her core is pop, strains of dance, bounce, funk, synth-pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic music swirl together in a sound that’s all her own.” —NPR

“Second Line is the artist breaking genre and pop industry expectations and going where she wants.” —New Orleans Gambit

“Dawn Richard returns with Second Line, an alluring, unpredictable blend of soul, trap, synth-pop, rock, house, and bounce music.” —NYMag Vulture Picks

Are you ready to dance? Are you ready for the revival? Are you ready for Dawn Richard? Because today, everyone’s feasting on Richard’s Second Line, an album that embodies the heritage of soul music and the roots of New Orleans, all surrounded by the influences of electronic futurism. To kick off celebrations, Richard premieres a music video for Second Line’s newest single, “Boomerang,” at 11am ET after a chat between Richard and director Monty Marsh at 10:30am ET.

Today at 2pm ET, join us at the official NPR Listening Party for Second Line, including a full listen of the record and a live conversation with Dawn Richard and her mother Debbie, whose stories are woven throughout the album.

Much like the New Orleans–born artist who created it, Second Line is an unapologetic genre bender that pushes boundaries, expands possibilities, and shatters expectations. It’s more than just an album: Second Line is a cohesive sensory experience that questions traditional ideas of sound, production, and visual aesthetics as they relate to music. Its interlocking parts tell an epic story about the quest for artistic expression, with Dawn describing her project as “a movement to bring pioneering Black women in electronic music to the forefront.”

Second Line LPs and CDs are shipping out from the Merge store now, where you can bundle the album with an exclusive lyric zine and/or long-sleeved t-shirt at a discount. The white Deluxe Peak Vinyl edition featuring a bonus King Creole–shaped 12-inch is sold out in our shop but can still be purchased at Rough Trade (US | UK).