Cold War Kids have announced their 10th studio album, Cold War Kids, that will arrive on November 3 via AWAL. To celebrate, the band has also shared the second single off the album, the pop/rock summer anthem “Run Away With Me.”

With its funky groove and huge chorus, “Run Away With Me” sets the tone for the LP as a whole – 12 high-minded, stylistically diverse songs referencing everything from Curtis Mayfield to the Pretenders and Elton John to Happy Mondays and Gang Of Four. Frontman Nathan Willet notes, “We started “Run Away With Me ” with Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Linda Linda’s ) as this Sly Stone type of funky soul song that evolved into a more soulful pop tune about two desperate, down-and-out lovers.” 

Just as the music on Cold War Kids draws equally from the band’s blues-and-soul-driven sonic past as well as fresh forays into dance beats and ‘80s pop/rock, the album’s themes of creative life conflicting with domestic realities reflect Willett’s increasingly introspective state of mind. Committed to pushing himself just as hard to create the album’s sound, Willett turned to a handful of new producers and collaborators, including Militarie Gun’s Max Epstein, Casey Lagos (Kesha, Wrabel), Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer), Jenn Decliveo (Miley Cyrus, Hozier), and Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde).

Ultimately, Cold War Kids is the culmination of Willett and Maust’s two-decade creative partnership, and it embodies the realization that said partnership is still truly worth celebrating. “For so many years, we were white-knuckling it and feeling like we were imposters,” Willett admits. “I realized, I can’t think that way. If I’m not sure I can listen back to something and know that it’s great, then I shouldn’t be putting it out.”

“This group of friends met and were drawn to each other at a Christian college, and we started the band in a strange environment where we realized, what are we all doing here?,” Willet says. “We came from a place of growing up, listening to music, and going to shows, and there’s a type of sweetness where we were sheltered from the music industry or wanting to be successful at any cost. Maust and I still have that connection, and it’s still an important part of what Cold War Kids are today.”

You can now pre-order vinyl and pre-save the album HERE.

Photo Courtesy: Sean Flynn