<\/p>\n
Courtney Barnett<\/a> has shared the new songs \u201cMantis\u201d and \u201cSugar Plum,\u201d the latest offerings from her upcoming album\u00a0Creature of Habit<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMantis\u201d is a more introspective cut from Barnett, who sings patiently and passionately over a winding electric guitar and the steady wash of a ride cymbal. She laments her habits, routines, and insecurities as her guitar shifts back and forth through a two-chord groove, landing on a flurry of existential observations. \u201cPraying mantis on my door, looking for meaning or just any sign at all,\u201d Barnett sings in the chorus, later emphasizing the futility she feels when writing music with the line \u201cAnd there\u2019s no such thing as a perfect melody\/ But I keep searching every morning in the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n Get Courtney Barnett Tickets Here<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSugar Plum,\u201d on the other hand, echoes the existential themes of \u201cMantis\u201d but takes on a much sunnier disposition. \u201cSugar Plum\u201d seems to be rooted in Barnett\u2019s experience moving from her native Australia to Los Angeles, chafing at the reality of change, claiming she\u2019s \u201cin over [her] head,\u201d but eventually finding courage to stay and grow. \u201cYou\u2019re either drowning in the deeper sea\/ Or drowning in the kitchen sink\/ Either way, it all feels like drowning,\u201d goes one particularly great line. Stream both new songs below.<\/p>\n Related Video<\/p>\n \u201cMantis is the microcosmic centerpiece of this album, it embodies the message and meaning of every track. It\u2019s a song about searching, and it helped me find my way through Creature Of Habit,<\/em>\u201d Barnett said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cI was feeling particularly lost while I was working on this song. One day, I was standing in the kitchen, making a coffee, when I noticed a little green praying mantis sitting on top of the doorframe. I had never seen one there in the desert house, so I took it as an important sign from the universe. I texted a photo to Stella [Mozgawa] and she said it\u2019s good luck, look it up! I did a quick search and found it to also represent patience, perseverance and a guide for those who needed direction. I stood and spoke to the mantis for a while, it was a strange and enlightening moment that I\u2019ll never forget. Eventually, I got back to writing, and finally I had the chorus to this song.\u201d<\/p>\n Creature of Habit<\/em>, Barnett\u2019s fourth studio album, is out on March 27th via Mom + Pop. She\u2019s previously shared the singles \u201cStay in Your Lane\u201d<\/a> and \u201cSite Unseen\u201d featuring Waxahatchee<\/a>. We named Creature of Habit <\/em>one of the Most Anticipated Indie Rock Albums of 2026<\/a>. Barnett will support the new album with a 2026 North American tour<\/a> kicking off in May; see her tour dates below and get tickets to see her here<\/a>.<\/p>\n