Forever Is A Feeling: Lucy Dacus Returns with Artful New Singles

Lucy Dacus by Shervin Lainez

Virginia born singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus is no stranger within the music scene. Born in 1995, the American singer developed an early interest in music which led to the purchase of her first guitar during her middle school years and became the leadup to the release of her debut album No Burden in 2016. Following the success of her album, Dacus became known by her fans for her deep and introspective lyrics alongside her emotive vocals, which led to her being signed to Matador Records in the same year. Dacus released her sophomore album titled Historian in 2018, a more ambitious album that, in her words, was set to feel like reading a very long book akin to Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. The album was also a creative effort to document parts of her life, such as her breakup with the former bassist in her band. The album is very raw and received high acclaim from her fans and critics alike. 

In addition to her solo work, Dacus is also a member of indie musical group Boygenius, alongside Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker. Together they have released two EPs and one studio album, which have earned them high praise and led them to win multiple Grammy’s in 2024, including an award for Best Alternative Music Album.

In January 2025, Dacus announced her fourth solo album titled Forever Is A Feeling, which is set to release on March 28. The album is meant to feature collaborations between her and her Boygenius bandmates, as well as Hozier and Bartees Strange. In addition, Dacus released two singles from her album titled “Limerence” and “Ankles.” 

“Ankles” opens with orchestral instruments filling the sound before Dacus chimes in with her smooth and silky voice. She starts off sounding quiet and shy with the song discussing themes of wanting a specific person that she cannot have. The lyrics indicate that she cannot or should not cross that line of turning a friendship into a physical relationship, with the lyrics ”What if we only talk about what we want but cannot have? And I’ll throw a fit, if it’s all I can do” suggesting that the protagonist and her muse know they cannot cross that physical boundary as of yet, but can keep the fantasy alive within their own mind. This message exudes into the pre-chorus where she begins discussing what she wants from her muse and suggests that they are potentially discussing their first physical encounter, whether it has already happened or will happen eventually. Dacus’s voice grows louder for the chorus, where the drums come in and the song is in full swing. 

Dacus discusses themes that indicate she may want more than a physical relationship with this unnamed character whilst also giving them permission to go further. With lyrics such as ”I’m not gonna stop you this time baby, I want you to show me what you mean, then help me with the crossword in the mornings, you are gonna make me tea, gonna ask me how did I sleep,” she puts forward the idea that the initial discussion with her beau may have been that of wanting a long-term commitment as well as the intimacy that carries with it. The chorus then slows and jumps right into the second verse, with her familiar voice singing over the percussion. In this verse, the lyrics become a lot more obscure and could be interpreted in multiple different ways which encourages listeners to read between the lines and discover their own meaning based on how they relate to the song. In my interpretation, I believe Dacus is capturing the beauty of love and loss as they both coincide with one another. One line in the song states ”How lucky are we to have so much to lose?” which captures the raw vulnerability of stepping into the uncharted territory that goes with taking a relationship from platonic to romantic. Dacus’s words capture the fear that comes with loss, but yet still embraces the idea that having something to lose is just as much of a privilege as it is scary. 

“Ankles” is an extremely touching and heartfelt song that uncovers the raw emotions you feel when battling with your feelings. It’s a song with lyrics that exude sexiness and passion, yet still remaining a fun indie bop that is enjoyable for everyone to listen to. It is an extremely strong start that definitely has me excited for the entire album!

“Limerence” opens up with a very beautiful, soft piano before diving straight into the vocals. To me, Dacus’s vocal style sounds very classical, reflecting artistic influences such as Laufey and Fiona Apple, embodying their style whilst continuing to make it her own. The song itself showcases a shift from Dacus’s guitar-driven tracks into incorporating orchestral instruments to fill out the sound and push her creative abilities to the fullest. “Limerence” is a word that describes an intense longing for someone that doesn’t fully reciprocate, reflecting how a crush can take over the mind and make you neglect other responsibilities in life without fully realizing. 

The song itself has a beautiful instrumental track with heart wrenching lyrics that confront the listener like a brick to the face. It focuses on internalizing feelings you’re terrified to say out loud, using the lyrics ”I’m just shoveling popcorn into my mouth, so I don’t say the things that I’m thinking out loud,” using the popcorn as a metaphor for distracting yourself into choking back the feelings she so desperately wants to tell someone. The song goes on with lyrics toying with the idea of breaking up with the individual the song is about, capturing how deeply love can hurt both parties when your feelings are so deeply tied to one another, showcasing the very bittersweet reality that many people are faced with when it comes to expressing those feelings. Dacus finishes the song indicating that she will not express these feelings to the person she is discussing in the song, choosing to cope with the loss of what could have been over dealing with the potential of a heartbreak. 

All in all, “Limerence” truly does capture Dacus’s growth as an artist. Many listeners can relate to the vulnerability captured within the lyrics, even sharing their own stories and reactions relating to the track. The song feels like a lullaby with lyrics made to capture emotions within the listener giving them a chance to relate and interpret the music into parts of their own life. “Limerence” offers a fresh and intimate perspective into the complexities of Dacus’s life and it really does set the stage for her album release in March 2025.

Dacus announced extensive North American tour dates for 2025 in support of her newest album. The tour includes a selected set of dates in unique and special locations, followed by the rest of her North American tour in April of 2025, which follows the release of Forever Is A Feeling. In addition to this, Dacus announced that $1 from every ticket sale will be donated to the Plus1 LA Fires Fund in order to help aid those affected by the ongoing Los Angeles fires. The most recent tour dates as of January 2025 are as follows:

February 2025:

• Feb 18: Brooklyn, NY – St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church

• Feb 20: Chicago, IL – Murphy Auditorium at Driehaus Museum

• Feb 22: San Francisco, CA – Legion of Honor

• Feb 24: Los Angeles, CA – Secret Location TBD

April 2025:

• Apr 16: Philadelphia, PA – The Met

• Apr 18: Washington, D.C. – The Anthem

• Apr 21: Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall

• Apr 23: New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

• Apr 25: Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall

May 2025:

• May 1: Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre

• May 5: Saint Paul, MN – Palace Theatre

• May 7: Kansas City, MO – Midland

• May 9: Dallas, TX – Winspear Opera House

• May 10: Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater

• May 12: Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

• May 14: Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre

The most recent information on the upcoming dates as well as ticketing information are featured on Lucy Dacus’s official website.