GUS ENGLEHORN - Releases "Better Watch Your Step"

GUS ENGLEHORN

RELEASES SINGLE + VIDEO “BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP” 

NEW ALBUM THE BROKEN BALLADEER PRODUCED BY BUTTHOLE SURFERS’ PAUL LEARY OUT 27 FEBRUARY 2026

Today, singer-songwriter psych-poet Gus Englehorn returns with follow-up single and video “Better Watch Your Step” ahead of highly anticipated album The Broken Balladeer set to be released on 27 February 2026.

Gus Englehorn continues to unravel the new record with the jangly rock earworm “Better Watch Your Step” with its bright, playful hooks carrying a subtle sense of caution. Alongside the single comes surreal and whimsical visuals directed and filmed with indispensable collaborator Estée Preda. The video captures the song’s distinct chorus and verse contrast with quirky imagery that jives in sync with the audio shot in 16mm and 8mm film and varied frame rates.

Speaking to their resourceful creative process, Preda shares:

“We like letting limitations guide the direction, and this time space played a central role. Shooting the video at home pushed us to think small, which led to stop-motion as a cost and space efficient way to work within that scale.”

Together with first single “Pepperina”, “Better Watch Your Step” opens the door into forthcoming record The Broken Balladeer. On this project, Gus Englehorn reunites with Paul Leary, founding member of the Butthole Surfers, succeeding their fruitful collaboration on critically acclaimed record The Hornbook, this time with Leary taking on the role of producer. They also enlisted the help of industry legends Stuart Sullivan (Sublime, Meat Puppets, Willie Nelson), Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins) and Kramer (Daniel Johnston, Ween, Galaxy 500). Leary even traded his producer’s hat for (digital) paint brushes as he graced the album cover with his art.

As always accompanied by Estée Preda, Gus and Estée recorded The Broken Balladeer in Austin, TX at the beginning of March 2025. “We recorded The Broken Balladeer in 6 days’’ explains Estée. “In fact, we tracked all the songs live the very first day, except for the piano ballad that was recorded the next day. We were so excited to have the chance to work with the big dogs that we made sure to arrive very prepared. The record turned out to have a very real and unified sound.’’

Gus Englehorn will celebrate the release of The Broken Balladeer with two headlining album launch shows presented by Mothland in Montréal and Québec City, an appearance at SXSW, and a run of European headlining dates (listed below), before joining Holy F**k as support on 18 dates across North America this spring. Tickets available now.

EUROPE

Mar 20 - Leipzig, GE - Noch Besser Leben 
Mar 26 - Tübingen, GE - Blauer Salon

Mar 27 - Mannheim, GE - Altes Volksbad 
Apr 1 - Hamburg, GE - Hafenklang

Apr 2 - Rotterdam, NL - V11


FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Photo credit: Estée Preda