Suzanne Vega on NYC Rats, Fontaines DC, and Her First LP in Nearly a Decade

Catching up with Suzanne Vega backstage at Bourbon and Beyond, Kyle Meredith dove into the timeless artist's latest ventures, including her new single “Rats.” Listen now.

“Rats" is a gritty homage to New York City's darker corners, inspired by punk mainstays like The Ramones and newer post-punk outfit Fontaines D.C. The timing couldn’t be better: the song dropped alongside the first-ever National Rat Summit in NYC, giving Vega’s track a fitting place among the urban grit it romanticizes.

The real news? Vega’s first album since 2016 is set for spring, coincidentally (or not) landing on the 40th anniversary of her iconic self-titled debut. Vega hints that this new record veers between genres; expect everything from folk rock to a Motown-inspired track, and even a song with a California ‘70s vibe. For fans, it’s a return to the kind of thematic storytelling that’s always marked her work, with fresh twists on familiar urban motifs. “Life gets in the way,” she laughs, referring to her longer album hiatus, “but there’s always something in New York to write about.”

Listen to Suzanne Vega chat about all this and more in the new episode or watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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