Indie Band Ratboys Announce New Album 'Singin' to an Empty Chair'

In February 2026, the Chicago indie-rock band Ratboys will release their new album "Singin' to an Empty Chair" through New West Records. The album, which spans 11 songs, was produced by Chris Walla, the former member of Death Cab for Cutie who also worked on the band's 2023 album "The Window."

According to the press release, the album's songs were primarily written by singer-guitarist Julia Steiner after she attended therapy for the first time and had a difficult conversation with a loved one from whom she is estranged. Steiner explains that the "Empty Chair" technique, which involves imagining the absent person in a chair and speaking directly to them, inspired much of the album's lyrical content.

The first single from "Singin' to an Empty Chair" is "Anywhere," a tightly wound slice of pop-rock accompanied by a music video directed by Bobby Butterscotch. Ratboys have also announced a North American tour beginning in February 2026, with a performance scheduled at the Pitchfork Music Festival London next month alongside Upchuck and Party Dozen.