On the evidence of these two singles, BFM promises to be Pope’s most patient and emotionally grounded work to date. They have traded the frantic energy of youth for a "lo-fi detour" into the heart of what it means to grow up, lose people, and find your way back to your community.
W: Patty Hurst I: Izze Thompson
After nearly a decade of silence, New Orleans indie-rock mainstays Pope are proving that some things are worth the wait. Their upcoming album, "BFM"—slated for release on April 30, 2026, via Houston’s tastemaking Rite Field Records—marks their first full-length effort since 2017’s True Talent Champion. While eight years have passed, the band—composed of Matt Seferian, Atticus Hebert, and Alejandro de los Rios—hasn’t just been dormant; they’ve been maturing. The result is a record that feels less like a simple comeback and more like a profound inward reckoning, tracing a sonic lineage from their Houston beginnings to the vibrant New Orleans community that eventually shaped them.
The band’s latest single, “Make You Feel,” serves as the emotional anchor for this new chapter. Driven by hard-hitting drums and ringing guitars that radiate frustration and grief, the track is a masterclass in atmospheric tension. Vocal harmonies fill the spaces between wise, glimmering chords, creating a soundtrack for the specific, messy complexity of navigating loss. It is a song of two halves: one rooted in the visceral shock of death, and the other in the enduring strength of the people left behind.
"‘Make You Feel’ is really two feelings in one song... It was so fast and so confusing that I was having a hard time processing it through my normal channels." — Matt Seferian
The track’s most haunting moment is its sudden conclusion, featuring audio from a "legendary show" hosted by a lost friend. According to Seferian, this sample acts as an allegory for the abruptness of grief and the weight of the legacy a person leaves behind. This follows the previously released “Newboi,” a track that wields undeniable hooks and catchy riffs to capture the circular frustration of being stuck in negative cycles—making the same mistakes while feeling powerless to change. Together, these singles suggest an album that isn't afraid to dwell in the dark before turning toward resilience.
"The sample plays like an allegory for both the shock that grief can bring and the legacy that a person can leave."
BFM finds the three-piece at their most "locked in," featuring a collaborative spirit that highlights their standing in the indie scene. The record includes vocals from Julia Steiner (Ratboys) and keys from Tyler Scurlock (Sleigh Bells), adding layers of texture to Pope’s signature sound. Over the last decade, the band has shared stages with heavyweights like Alex G, Mitski, and Wednesday, and that road-worn experience shines through in their new, more patient delivery. This is the sound of a band returning to where it all began, carrying years of shared history back to the moment friendship became a future.
"BFM feels like the band returning to the place where it all began, carrying everything they’ve learned back to the moment friendship became a future."
Catch Pope live in their element next week as they headline a hometown show:
- Venue: Saturn Bar, New Orleans, LA
- Date: March 18, 2026
- Support: bloodsports, The Convenience, and Wesley Wolffe