Brooklyn, NY – Following the success of their thought provoking, psyche exploring and introspective singles ‘Happenstance’ and ‘Finite’, revealed earlier this year, The Formalist are set to enrapture audiences once again with their new release, ‘A = N’. Offering a fresh glimpse into the duo's ever-evolving “sonosphere”, this third instalment serves as a highly anticipated invocation of their forthcoming album, A Trace of Yourself, set to debut later this Spring.

‘A = N’ offers a mesmerising blend of retrofuturistic noir-ballad elements, seamlessly weaving together echoes of a 1950s doo-wop chord progression with ghostly auras of ambient guitar and pulsing electro-shuffle beats. The result is a hauntingly familiar yet distinctly contemporary track that showcases The Formalist's signature fusion of programmed and performed instruments.

The single unfolds like a cinematic journey through dark, neon-lit streetscapes, reminiscent of a scene from a noir film set in 1970s New York City. Rich strings and an insinuating bassline crackle with energy beneath the surface, awakening a sense of mystery and intrigue. As the song progresses, it transitions seamlessly into a serene bridge of acoustic guitar and hand percussion, offering a moment of introspection amidst the pulsating rhythms.

Lyrically, ‘A = N’ finds The Formalist exploring themes of romanticism and melancholy, reflecting on the passage of time and the cyclical nature of memory. With lines like "Every day we trade amnesia for nostalgia", the hook cyclically emerges, turns in on itself, and happens anew. The song name, taken from the lyrics, represents how we experience and remember life, inviting listeners to ponder the complexities of being human and the enduring search for meaning and connection in an ever-changing world.

Amidst the creative process, there are moments of revelation where the true essence of a song emerges. For The Formalist, this journey of discovery is deeply ingrained within ‘A = N’. Reflecting on this transformative process, the band shares,

"Sometimes it takes a long time to realise a song’s potential. 'A = N' was one such track, which we found ourselves returning to repeatedly over several years until arriving at its final form."

Where The Formalist’s first single, ‘Happenstance’, considered how people hoard and fight for things that ultimately don’t endure, and the second single, ‘Finite’, was a pleading meditation on loss, ‘A = N’ is The Formalist in a mode of wistful hopefulness, realising that no matter what changes – seasons, styles, decades – we will find ourselves, again and again.