Flower Face details new album, Kill the Muse

Flower Face, the Montreal-based goth dream-pop artist Ruby McKinnon, is preparing to release her much-anticipated second album, Kill the Muse, slated for February 5, 2027, through Nettwerk. Following the momentum built by her 2024 breakthrough debut, Girl Prometheus, McKinnon is set to deepen her artistic exploration with this new project.

The lead-up to Kill the Muse has been marked by the strategic release of singles that offer insight into the album's introspective and often somber themes. The latest track, "Better the Devil," continues this narrative, focusing on the emotional toll of clinging to destructive habits long after others have moved on. It confronts the question of the value inherent in enduring pain, a motif central to the record.

Earlier, the single "Bad Dream" served as the initial glimpse into the album's tonal and lyrical direction. Both songs underscore McKinnon's ongoing examination of personal struggle and resilience, themes she began to grapple with during the creative process for Girl Prometheus. Interestingly, many of the songs on Kill the Muse were conceived during studio sessions for her debut, reflecting a period of intense emotional upheaval.

McKinnon has spoken about the challenges of channeling pain into her music, acknowledging that while suffering fueled her initial creative output, sustaining this approach proved detrimental to her well-being. She has expressed a conscious desire to evolve artistically by learning to compose from a healthier mental and emotional place, signaling a shift in her songwriting philosophy.

The album itself delves into complex feelings of identity and alienation. McKinnon's reflections touch on waking up feeling dislocated within oneself and the paradox of seeking comfort in familiar loneliness and painful patterns, even when yearning for something better. This thematic exploration is enriched by her literary influences, including a poignant reference to poet Rick Siken, which encapsulates the lingering presence of sorrow even when one attempts to cast it away.

Kill the Muse comprises a diverse set of tracks, including "Paralyzed," "Too Sweet To Swallow," "Videotape," "Sunsick," "Simon Says," "Life's So Boring," "Party Trick," the aforementioned "Better the Devil" and "Bad Dream," as well as a cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Something I Can Never Have," and "Mortal Creature." This selection suggests a blend of original compositions and reinterpretations that contribute to the album's textured soundscape.

In support of her new material, Flower Face is concluding her inaugural North American headline tour with sold-out performances in key cities such as Brooklyn and Chicago. The momentum continues overseas, where her debut London concert sold out rapidly, and additional dates in major European cultural hubs including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Cologne have also reached full capacity, reflecting a growing international fan base.

While details surrounding the full album's production and additional promotional activities remain scarce at this time, the narrative emerging from McKinnon's recent releases and comments points to a record that is both a continuation and a departure from her earlier work. Kill the Muse promises to be a compelling chapter in Flower Face's artistic journey, grappling with vulnerability, growth, and the paradoxes of emotional survival.