Flowers Is Coming: TDWP Drops ‘Where the Flowers Never Grow’ and ‘Wave’

The Devil Wears Prada just kept the Flowers rollout moving, their ninth album drops November 14, and we’ve already got two new tracks to jump into: “Where the Flowers Never Grow” and “Wave.” Fans are already speculating about what the full record will sound like, but with these songs alone, it’s clear Prada are stepping into a new era that blends pieces of their past with a newer take of energy.

“Where the Flowers Never Grow” hits with that moment of moody heaviness that calls back to Dead Throne, but it leans even harder into the emotional side of things, which kind-of echoes the vibe of Color Decay. It’s heavy in some parts, but not just in sound but also in feeling. It sounds just like an incubated version of songs past.

“Where The Flowers Never Grow" is a song about the realization that no matter how good things get from the outside, there is still a place of darkness in our minds… the place where flowers never grow. The hours spent away from the stage and the bright lights can be a lonely place. The lyrics are a reckoning with how you can receive everything you thought you wanted, but you still have to reckon with the intrusive thoughts of emptiness and old wounds that you’re trying to find a way to heal. My hope is that anyone who hears the song feels seen, that they’re not alone in the darkest corners of their mind, and that we’re all trying to find a way forward.”

–Jeremy DePoyster

On the flip side, “Wave” slows everything down. It’s atmospheric, melodic, and airy which falls more in line with Transit Blues, but somewhat smoother. Since it’s the second-to-last track on the album, and ends abruptly, it feels like a setup for the closer. Will the finale crash heavily, or fade out peacefully? That’s the mystery for now. Together, these two songs show that Flowers is shaping up to be a record for fans who want both soaring clean vocals and deeper meaning behind the lyrics. But that’s just an assumption, since the album is composed of 14 tracks, we still have SO MUCH to uncover.

Prada also dropped a short film to go with “Where the Flowers Never Grow,” directed by Wyatt Clough, proving once again they’re thinking beyond the usual album cycle. The visual gives a A24 vibe with bright colors and off-putting storyline. They’ve always had a way of making each era feel like an experience, and it’s cool to see them blending film and music in a way that’s starting to catch on more across the scene.

All this is coming on the heels of their first Billboard Active Rock charting single (“For You”), plus a tour. The Prada calendar isn’t slowing down either, shows with Bullet For My Valentine, Ice Nine Kills, Creeper, festival slots, and even the Emo’s Not Dead cruise are also all on deck.

At this point, Flowers feels like one of those albums that will spark debates about which Prada era it sits closest to, and that’s part of the fun of following a band that’s been evolving for 20 whole years. Two decades! They’re still finding ways to surprise us, still writing songs that stick, and still leveling up their sound without losing what makes them Prada.