DECATUR – THAO’s “Fossils” marks a significant solo return after six years, re-establishing her artistic collaboration with Kill Rock Stars and setting a new trajectory.
THAO has released “Fossils,” her first new single in six years, marking a return to Kill Rock Stars after the dissolution of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down in 2021. The track, co-produced by Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner of tUnE-yArDs, features a collective singalong moment with contributions from a diverse group of collaborators, including Samin Nosrat.
The single is accompanied by a music video, directed by Linda Mai Green. THAO is also scheduled for a series of tour dates supporting Lord Huron, beginning June 13 in Decatur, GA. Additional performances are set for Asheville, NC, Charleston, NC, Wilmington, NC, NC, Richmond, VA, and other East Coast venues.
Unearthing the Urgency of Unlived Lives
THAO’s 2026 single, “Fossils,” marks a significant return to her solo artistry and Kill Rock Stars, following her previous work with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. The track warns against becoming “frozen in these protective stances,” emphasizing the inherent “danger of underliving our lives,” a concept explored in our breakdown of “Fossils” by THAO. This message resonates with themes from albums like A Man Alive and Temple.
The lyrics immediately demand profound engagement, urging a “Full embrace” beyond superficiality. THAO contemplates future regret, imagining “fossils tense with protection” as lives calcified by fear. A repeated plea, “How do I love you / Desperately,” reveals a yearning for absolute emotional investment, shifting to a directive: “Build those muscles to tread / Not to flee,” advocating for resilience against life’s challenges.
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