London progressive alt pop outfit Exploring Birdsong have today announced their forthcoming debut album, “Every House We Built”, set for release on June 26th, 2026, via Long Branch Records.
Featuring previously released tracks “42” and “Romanticise”, the record sees the band turn inwards, drawing from lived experiences to explore the complexities of relationships spanning friendships, family and romance. Using houses as a central metaphor, the album reflects on how connections are carefully built with intention yet can unexpectedly collapse, leaving behind the lingering weight of something once thought permanent.
The announcement is accompanied by the release of the band’s new single, “You Like It Best When It Hurts”. Watch the video below.
Speaking of the track, vocalist Lynsey Ward shares: “‘You Like It Best When It Hurts’ actually began its life as a completely different song, but easily found a way to take the shape that it has now. For as long as we’ve been a band we’ve been proud that our sound has such broad shoulders, so we felt we could really push our influences from heavy music out into the open with this one and create the heaviest Birdsong music to date. Lyrically, it is written about observing a type of person that we have all come across- self-sabotaging and self destructive almost to the point where it seems that they can’t -or don’t want to- break the cycle. More new territory for us, as we’re now equipped to convey anger and aggression convincingly-it felt completely natural to write a bit of a love letter to heavy music whilst channeling our own frustrations”.
Pre-order “Every House We Built” here.
Tracklist:
1. Archipelago
2. 42
3. Romanticise
4. Footprints
5. Arrhythmia
6. Spy in the House of Love
7. I_You
8. The Warning
9. You Like It Best When It Hurts
10. Cartography
11. Every House We Built
12. Meadowlands
Exploring Birdsong will embark on a headline UK tour this September. The run of dates will see the band kick things off in Glasgow on 23rd September, before heading south for shows in London and Bristol and wrapping up the tour with a final date in Manchester on 26th September.
UK Headline Tour Dates 2026:
Sep 23 Glasgow Classic Grand
Sep 24 London Islington Assembly Hall
Sep 25 Bristol Strange Brew
Sep 26 Manchester Gorilla
Tickets here.
Exploring Birdsong have evolved into one of the UK’s most compelling and unclassifiable modern bands. Following a bold shift in sound first signalled by their 2024 singles, the three piece have expanded their sonic palette without sacrificing the emotional intimacy and genre blurring beauty that defines them.
Fronted by the unmistakable voice of Lynsey Ward alongside Jonny Knight and Matt Harrison, the band craft a sound that weaves vulnerability, heaviness and intricate songwriting into something entirely their own. Their approach to modern heavy music feels both cinematic and deeply personal, balancing raw feeling with experimental ambition, with subtle touchstones in artists such as Kate Bush.
This emotional core has been matched by growing momentum. By 2025 the band had sold out headline shows at London’s St Pancras Old Church within minutes, building on previous sold out dates in Manchester and London. Having shared stages with Katatonia and Sleep Token alongside appearances at RADAR Festival and Euroblast, Exploring Birdsong continue to carve out a space that feels entirely their own, unplaceable yet unmistakable.
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/ExploringBirdsong
www.instagram.com/exploringbirdsong
