Lucy Dacus rang in the tenth anniversary of her debut album, No Burden, with an exciting new update for her music career.
The 31-year-old indie musician took to social media and penned an emotional reflection on the past decade of her career, and announced that she now owns the master recordings which previously belonged to her label.
The Bullseye hitmaker began, “No Burden is 10 years old. I wrote these songs when I would not have called myself a musician, while I was working other jobs. I’d write them in my head during shifts as a box office attendant, or a yearbook photo editor, or a terrible waitress, or through any of the myriad odd jobs I took to work up $195 for my monthly contribution to the room I shared with two friends (RIP 2014 Richmond rent).
Dacus continued, “I’d write down lyrics on sticky notes or napkins, hum it out on my walk home, then figure out a guitar part before going to sleep. It’s very easy to romanticise now. I didn’t think any of you would hear them. Maybe 50 of you? And those 50 know who they are.”
The Boygenius member told her fans that she “recently listened to it for the first time in years and blushed. I feel like this is usually said in an abstract sense, but I literally hadn’t found my voice. I wasn’t used to hearing myself through a mic, into headphones. I don’t think I’ve sounded quite like that before or after, and what’s there is a document of working it out. I sound more southern too, which is sweet. Makes me wonder if I’ve subconsciously packed that away a bit, which would make me sad. We only had one day to record, and if we had more time, I might’ve found my footing, for better or possibly worse.
Speaking of how her recording process has shifted over the years, Dacus noted, “Technically we spent a couple hours the next day recording Trust and doing a few guitar overdubs, but mostly we played the songs live, sometimes just one take, and moved on. Can’t imagine working like that now. Another thing I can easily romanticise. It was different before anyone was watching. Not that I necessarily want to return to that mindset, I’m just noticing that I can’t. I’m in the after, and No Burden was before.”
The Ankles songstress concluded, “So it means the world to me that, today, I get my masters back. No Burden is mine. This day always seemed so far in the future, but here we are. I’m reissuing it with new art, and adding No Thank You, I Love You, Goodbye at the end since I wrote that song around the same time as the others.”
She then thanked her fans for believing in her art since the beginning, writing, “If you’re one of the people who started listening to me 10 years ago, I can’t believe you’re still here. Thank you.”
2026-09-10 12:10:00
