Chantal Acda is set to release her new album The Whale on September 19th, a project that signals a bold new chapter for the Dutch-born, Belgium-based artist. After years of writing alone, Acda has shifted her process entirely, choosing to build this record in close collaboration with the band that has toured alongside her for more than a decade. The result is a work shaped not only by her own voice but by the collective intuition of musicians bound by trust and long-standing connection.
Produced by Chris Eckman of The Walkabouts, The Whale ventures into rougher, more pop-infused territory than Acda’s previous efforts. While the textures feel broader and more immediate, the record never loses the hallmarks of her artistry: emotional intensity, a restless creativity, and a lyrical intimacy that invites the listener closer. It’s both a departure and a distillation—an album that embraces risk while deepening the resonance of Acda’s sound.
Check the first excerpt below.
