Rebecca Schiffman balances memory and meaning on Before the Future
Rebecca Schiffman returns with Before the Future, her fourth full-length album and perhaps her most expansive yet. Out July 25, 2025, the project brings together a remarkable cast of collaborators to create a record that is both intimate and philosophically rich. With its indie-pop warmth and lyrical introspection, Before the Future reflects on childhood, motherhood, grief, and the weight of cultural inheritance with grace and curiosity.
Produced by: Chris Cohen, Tim Carr, SASAMI, and Luke Temple
The album begins with its nearly 10-minute title track, born from a grief meditation following the death of a childhood friend. It slowly unfolds like memory itself, awash in drones and steady rhythms as Schiffman observes, “I had a moment of brightness / Thinking of light and nothing else.” This careful tension between openness and constraint, between wonder and melancholy, runs throughout the album.
Much of Before the Future was built from solitary vocal tracking sessions in Schiffman’s home, guided early on by Chris Cohen. Unlike her previous records, which were created quickly in traditional studio settings, this album evolved over time, allowing for the development of deep layers of harmony and experimentation. Schiffman’s process was deliberate and thoughtful—lyrics were written in the morning to avoid decision fatigue, and melodies were slowly shaped to reflect the themes of searching and selfhood.
Lead single ‘Little Mr. Civility’ captures the artist’s navigation of parenthood and cultural expectations. Inspired by her young son’s shifting personas, the song reflects Schiffman’s unease at imposing social norms, softened by gentle percussion and sweeping strings. “All my life I’ve been seeking the obliteration of meaning, but here you are, Little Mr. Civility,” she sings, revealing the paradox of raising a child within structures you’re still trying to understand yourself.
On ‘Rudy’s Song,’ Schiffman pays tribute to a beloved dog while questioning the labels we assign to the ones we love. Inspired in part by The Sexual Politics of Meat, she sings, “I’m trying to hold on to the real her / Find what got lost in our invention,” leaving the subject ambiguous, inviting us to reflect on how identity is shaped by our projections.
Even as she tackles themes of grief, constraint, and moral responsibility, Schiffman’s music remains airy and inviting. ‘Bubble of Love’ uses bright harmonies and quick rhythms to express both the bliss and claustrophobia of early romance. ‘The Mercenary,’ born from a book club songwriting prompt, takes a funk-leaning turn with a Triton synth and playful guitar, while ‘Beach Vacation’ mines a childhood memory to reflect on time’s strange elasticity.
“Is pure feeling possible?” is one of the questions Schiffman wrestles with across this album. The answer seems to come in the form of acceptance—that our experiences, values, and identities are always shaped by the world around us, and that awareness itself can be liberating. The record closes with a return to the present, under the moon that’s followed us all our lives, repeating the gentle reminder: “this is the now.”
With Before the Future, Schiffman crafts a deeply human collection of songs, quietly profound in both sound and meaning. It’s a work that rewards patience and introspection, and affirms Schiffman as a singular voice in indie pop’s most thoughtful corner.
Standout Songs: ‘Before the Future,’ ‘Rudy’s Song,’ ‘The Mercenary’
Release Date: July 25, 2025
6.7
We’ve covered Rebecca Schiffman previously: ‘The Mercenary,’ and ‘Bubble of Love.’
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