Bingkai Karya – Last Friday, April 18, two of today’s most iconic young songwriters, Julien Baker (of boygenius) and TORRES, released their long-awaited debut collaborative album, Send A Prayer My Way, through Matador Records. The album has been in the making since the two first shared a stage back in 2016. After that show, one of them casually said, “We should make a country album.” That spontaneous comment sparked the beginning of a musical journey based on mutual respect and a shared passion for honest, graceful songwriting.
Both artists are known for their courage in expressing life’s struggles, which deeply connect with their fans. This album is no exception. Like many timeless country records, ‘Send A Prayer My Way’ offers comfort and strength—a reminder that none of us are truly alone, and that music can be a lifelong companion.
To celebrate the album’s release, Baker and TORRES dropped a new track, “Bottom of a Bottle,” a tribute to their love for ’90s country and Americana. With violins, parlor piano, steel guitars, and soaring choruses, the song beautifully captures the genre’s spirit. They performed it for the first time on The Daily Show. As Stereogum noted, “Just like the earlier singles ‘Sylvia’ and ‘Tuesday’, TORRES leads with vocals while Baker delivers stunning harmonies… they sound incredible. Classic country suits them perfectly.”
So far, Julien Baker & TORRES have released four critically acclaimed singles from the album, including “Dirt,” “Sylvia,” and “Tuesday”—each showcasing their unique songwriting while celebrating the sound of country. They also performed “Sugar in the Tank” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. That song became the second most-added track on AAA radio and is currently charting at #11.
On April 23, Baker & TORRES kicked off their U.S. tour for Send A Prayer My Way, starting in Richmond, VA and ending in Omaha, NE on May 12. They’re also set to appear at several festivals previously announced.
About Julien Baker
Born in Memphis and raised playing music in church, Julien Baker first captured the world’s attention with her debut album Sprained Ankle (2015). Recorded in just a few days, the album is a somber yet hopeful reflection on identity, addiction, faith, resilience, and redemption. Her live performances have been described by The New Yorker as “…silent, reverent. The only sounds between songs are her fingers adjusting the electric guitar, whispers from the audience, and the soft rustle of anticipation before she begins to play again.”
Baker’s career continued to rise with the release of Turn Out the Lights (2017) and her collaborative EP with boygenius (2018), a trio formed with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Her solo album Little Oblivions (2021) cemented her status as “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of her generation” (Rolling Stone). She has performed on major television shows including Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and CBS This Morning. In 2023, she reunited with boygenius and released their first full-length album, the record, which won three Grammy Awards and marked the biggest tour of their career.
About TORRES
TORRES is the stage name of Mackenzie Scott. Born on January 23, 1991, she currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with her wife Jenna, her stepson Silas, and their dog Sylvia. She has been releasing albums and performing as TORRES since 2013.Her sixth album, What an enormous room, was recorded between September and October 2022 in Durham, North Carolina. The album features 10 songs, all written by Mackenzie. It was co-produced with Sarah Jaffe, who also played bass, synth, drums, organ, and piano. Mackenzie contributed vocals, guitar, bass, synth, and drum programming. The album was mixed by TJ Allen in the UK and mastered by Heba Kadry in NYC.
Read more: A Song for the Unspoken, Sung Live: ‘Walau Berantakan’ Special Session by Prince Husein & Feby Putri
