Courtney Barnett is back with a brand new record. “Creature of Habit”, out March via Mom+Pop Music, is the follow-up to 2021’s “Things Take Time, Take Time“. With the news comes brand new single, “Site Unseen”, featuring Waxahatchee. It’s set to a Juliana and Nicola Giraffe-directed visualizer.
“Creature of Habit” marks a decisive new chapter in Courtney Barnett’s musical evolution. It’s a bold, emotionally resonant record that explores the central question: how to get out of your own way so you can truly feel your life. Written in the wake of a relocation from Australia to Los Angeles and the closure of her long-running label Milk! Records, Barnett was grappling with changes that put the future of both her life and career in question. Rather than internalising those feelings, she decided to bring all this swirling confusion directly into the recording process.
Courtney Barnett’s Creature of Habit marks a clear turning point in her songwriting and approach. Known for transforming the details of everyday life into sharp, affecting songs, Barnett uses this album to look inward, asking how to break patterns, quiet self-doubt and stay present inside your own life.
“I tried 3 separate times over 2 years to track this song, and each time it either wasn’t finished or didn’t sound right and each time we had to start again. I kept hearing this really high harmony in my head, so for the fourth and final version, I asked Katie if she’d be into singing it with me. I’m a big Waxahatchee fan. I really love Katie’s songwriting and her voice, so it was an honour to have her sing on ‘Site Unseen’.”
The album also features previously-shared single “Stay in Your Lane”.
Written during a period of major personal and professional change, “Creature of Habit” brings uncertainty directly into the creative process. Rather than smoothing over disruption, Barnett lets it shape the music, resulting in a record that feels deliberate, reflective and quietly assured. The familiar observational wit remains, but it’s paired with a deeper focus on emotional habits, routines and the effort it takes to move beyond them.
Across her career, Barnett has steadily expanded her sound and perspective, from early breakthroughs that established her distinctive voice to later records that leaned into broader emotional and political territory. “Creature of Habit” builds on that trajectory, stripping things back while pushing forward, and capturing an artist taking stock without losing momentum.
It’s a confident, considered statement that finds clarity in change and strength in self-examination.
The Fat Angel Sings 