Hurray for the Riff Raff Announce New LP ‘The Past Is Still Alive,’ Share Lead Single

Photo by Tommy Kha

Hurray for the Riff Raff have revealed their upcoming album, The Past Is Still Alive, will hit the shelves on Feb. 23 via Nonesuch. This album marks a milestone for Alynda Segarra, also known as Hurray for the Riff Raff, and emerges from a period of personal grief, drawing inspiration from radical poetry, railroad culture, outsider art, writer Eileen Myles’ works, and the legacy of activist groups like ACT UP and Gran Fury.

The Past Is Still Alive encapsulates Segarra’s exploration of trauma, identity, and aspirations for the future, serving as both a memoir and a roadmap of their life. Produced by Brad Cook and mixed by Mike Mogis, the album not only reflects Segarra’s North Carolina roots but also travels through landscapes rich with experiences, spanning from childhood road trips to struggles of addiction and moments of love and loss across the nation.

Notably, The Past Is Still Alive not only reunites Hurray for the Riff Raff with Cook but also introduces an expanded circle of collaborators, including Anjimile, Conor Oberst, and S.G. Goodman.

In celebration of the LP’s impending release date, Segarra shared its lead single, “Alibi.” The song serves as an emotional plea, a bittersweet attempt to reach someone destined to be lost. “It’s a song to myself, to my Father, almost fooling myself because I know what’s done is done. But it feels good to beg,” Segarra shared in a press release. “A reckoning with time and memory.”

In addition to their musical endeavors, Hurray for the Riff Raff recently presented a stage adaptation of their 2017 album, The Navigator, toured with Bright Eyes and First Aid Kit, and participated in numerous festivals and televised performances. Their upcoming tour, set for spring across the US, UK, and EU, promises to bring the melodies and reflections of The Past Is Still Alive live on stage.

General on-sale starts Friday, Nov. 10, at 10 a.m. local time. Learn more and find tickets here.

Listen to “Alibi” below.