Chappell Roan debuts “The Subway” studio recording, adds new dates for intimate U.S. performances.
Chappell Roan’s new single “The Subway” is now officially out on Amusement, Island Records, and Universal Music Canada. First introduced during live sets in 2023, the studio version brings new emotional weight to a fan-favorite ballad.
Created with producer and co-writer Daniel Nigro, “The Subway” expresses the pain of romantic distance through quiet moments and dramatic expression. Roan’s lyrical storytelling is front and center, highlighted by the line, “I made a promise, if in four months this feeling ain’t gone, well f*ck this city, I’m moving to Saskatchewan!”
Hints of the release emerged in New York last week through visual teasers and a viral moving truck clip in Saskatchewan. These creative clues built anticipation across social platforms.
A limited edition 7” copper vinyl was released alongside the single, featuring the track and the demo “I Hate It Here”. The collector’s item quickly sold out.
The music video, directed by Amber Grace Johnson, was shot in Manhattan using 35mm film. It captures Roan drifting through the city, encountering ghosts of her past and symbolic representations of emotional baggage.
Roan reflects, “The cliche of ‘the girl that got away’ barely scratches the surface for me with this song. I wrote it as I was stumbling around New York with a broken heart and I kept envisioning us on every street, fire escape, coffee shop, park and yes… the subway.”
She also announced new live dates for fall 2025, including multi-night runs in New York, Kansas City, and Pasadena. A portion of each ticket will benefit organizations dedicated to trans youth support.