Sondre Lerche announces new album 'Acrobats, out 21 Aug via PLZ / Virgin - new single 'Little Kids' out now

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Sondre Lerche has announced his new album 'Acrobats' will be released on 21st August via PLZ / Virgin. His first full-length of brand new music in over four years, 'Acrobats' marks the return of the beloved Norwegian artist with an album that’s bold and bombastic; a polarising reflection on the dichotomy of finding love while in times of soulless global unrest and unfathomable human atrocities.

Today, Lerche unveils the first look at the album with new single 'Little Kids,' a dreamy, sepia-toned melody featuring vivid string arrangements by Sean O’Hagan (High Llamas) and performed by the Stockholm Studio Orchestra.

Its video was directed by rising Norwegian filmmaker Lea Meyer and inspires empathy and kindness towards our younger selves when seeking affirmation and love. The new song was co-produced by Alexander von Mehren and Lerche, and mixed by Jørgen Trœen.

“From the first verse’s innocent rejection, to the third verse’s plunge into premature adulthood, ‘Little Kids’ is about trying to avoid looking back in anger, and instead look back with newfound empathy and perspective on adolescent attempts at stumbling towards love, friendship and intimacy,” stated Lerche.

“It’s about forgiving who you were and who you were with, and that feeling we get when we see photos of ourselves and realise we were so much younger than we thought at the time. It’s personal, but highly universal.”

On the accompanying video, he continued, “For the first time in my career, I felt compelled to make a video that actually visualised elements of the lyrics. It’s not an adaptation, but something about the nature of these words made me not want to counter or contrast them this time, but rather follow them and elevate them. I had been lucky enough to meet Lea Meyer at a thing a while back and I just had an instinct that she’d get the song and that she’d be right for this. Drawing on some visual and thematic inspiration from the 1970 film A Swedish Love Story, we are introduced to three different couples, different ages and challenges. The results are a testament to Lea’s talent and unique touch. Her and her team were such a brilliant, beautiful group of young professionals who worked incredibly well and dedicated together. Obviously the song is very meaningful to me, but I am also so proud of this video.”

Sondre Lerche has always been a romantic. Whether it be the songs he wrote as a teen for his critically acclaimed 2001 debut, 'Faces Down', scoring films like Dan in Real Life, or starring as the love-lorn Christian in the Norwegian stage production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

In 2026, though, his perspective of love is shot through with an element of rebellion. Lerche teased this new era with 'Turning Up The Heat Again', a preceding EP released earlier this year, meant as a palette cleanser to plant the flag and herald in his new chapter of releases.

Now fully-realised, the result is his 11th studio album, 'Acrobats', an eight-song suite that pingpongs between joy and introspection, loss and love.

“There’s a dissonance between the increasingly dystopian world we live in and finding beauty and peace in your private life. It feels almost like a paradox that I’m blessed to have landed in a life and a love that is very meaningful and true. And, at the same time, it feels impossible to write a love song without taking into account the unspeakable things that are happening in the world. Falling in love feels more and more like an act of defiance.”

Recorded across nine studios with a wide-ranging cast of creatives, 'Acrobats' is a sobering follow-up to 2022’s 'Avatars of Love' (“Lavishly orchestrated pop from Norwegian master craftsman" - 9/10 Uncut) - although no less brimming with passion. Lerche sees himself as the “curator” of the record, bringing in musician friends old and new to create delicate biomes of sound. There’s his long-time producers Matias Téllez and Kato Ådland, clarinet player Solveig Wang, saxophone player Jonas Hamre, singer Veslemøy Narvesen (who also happens to be one of Norway’s premiere jazz drummers), upright bass player Ole Morten Vågan, trombonist Emil Bø - and his longtime band: Dave Heilman on drums, Chris Holm on bass, and Alexander von Mehren on keys.

'Acrobats' physical pre-order is available as a webstore exclusive 2xLP gatefold ‘Splendor’ edition including recent EP 'Turning Up The Heat Again', a standard 1xLP edition on transparent red vinyl, and CD.

Lerche has also announced autumn tour dates later this year in support of the new album, which will take him across the UK, Europe and the US. EU & UK tickets go on sale 14th May at 9am CET. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit his website HERE.

LIVE DATES

September

10 - Boston, MA @ Arts at The Armory

12 - Washington, DC @ Miracle Theatre

13 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

15 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

16 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Cedar

19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sid The Cat Auditorium

20 - Ojai, CA @ Ojai Women’s Club

21 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

24 - Portland, OR @ Mission Theater

25 - Seattle, WA @ Triple Door

October

15 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene

16 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene

17 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene

22 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene

23 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene

24 - Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret Scene

November

12 - Lisbon, PT @ Univerdsidade Nova

13 - Aveiro, PT @ Teatro Aveirense

14 - Arcos de Valdevez, PT @ Casa das Artes

20 - Vienna, AT @ Blue Bird Festival

21 - Torino, IT @ Spazio211

22 - Bologna, IT @ Baumhaus

23 - Milano, IT @ Arci Bellezza

27 - London, UK @ The Lower Third

29 - Utrecht, NL @ Vredenburg

30 - Breda, NL @ Mezz

December

02 - Groningen, NL @ Simplon