Hear the gorgeous, subtle ‘placeholder’ from new Saddle Creek signing Hand Habits

Every weekday, DIY’s new music know-it-all Neu brings you one essential new release to get obsessed with. Today’s Neu Pick comes from Hand Habits.

Meg Duffy is the guitarist in Kevin Morby’s live band, but also makes solo music as Hand Habits. Today, they’ve announced they’ve signed to Saddle Creek for new album ‘placeholder’, and its title track is today’s Neu Pick.

Daring in its simplicity, ‘placeholder’ is fleshed out by calming patters of drums and warm guitar chords, but it’s Meg’s layered vocals that give the track its charm and personality.

“A big aspect of my songwriting and the way I move through the world depends on my relationships with people. The songs on placeholder are about accountability and forgiveness,” Meg says about the new record.

“These are all real stories. I don’t fictionalise much,” they add, and this unwavering honesty comes through loud and clear on the album’s title track, transported into hearts and minds via soft, unusual vocal turns reminiscent of Elliott Smith.

‘placeholder’ is out 1st March via Saddle Creek - listen to its title track below.