Empathogen (album)

Empathogen
Standard edition cover
Studio album by Willow
Released	May 3, 2024 (2024-05-03)
Genre	Jazz progressive rock [1]
Length	32:00
Label	Three Six Zero Gamma
Producer	Jon Batiste Eddie Benjamin Chris Greatti Willow
Willow chronology
Coping Mechanism (2022) Empathogen (2024)
Singles from Empathogen
"Symptom of Life" Released: March 12, 2024 "Big Feelings" Released: April 11, 2024

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	6.8/10 [2]
Sputnikmusic	4.3/5 [3]

Empathogen is the sixth studio album by American singer Willow. ^[4] It was released through Three Six Zero and Gamma on May 3, 2024.

Release and promotion

Willow released the song "Symptom of Life" on March 12, 2024. A music video directed by the artist herself accompanied the song's release. ^[5] Willow announced Empathogen on April 11, with a scheduled release date of May 3. Alongside the announcement, she released the second single "Big Feelings", which also featured a self-directed music video. ^{[6] [7]} On May 1, NPR Music featured Willow in a Tiny Desk Concert ahead of the album's release, where she performed "Symptom of Life", "Big Feelings", and another track from the album, "Run!". ^[8] Empathogen was released on May 3, through Three Six Zero and Gamma. ^[2] A deluxe edition titled Ceremonial Contrafact was released on September 27, with three additional tracks. ^[9]

Track listing

Empathogen standard track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Home" (featuring Jon Batiste)	Willow Smith Jon Batiste Kate Munger	Smith Batiste Zach Brown [a]	3:03
2.	"Ancient Girl"	Smith	Smith	1:30
3.	"Symptom of Life"	Smith Asher Bank Chris Greatti Brad Oberhofer	Smith Greatti	3:09
4.	"The Fear Is Not Real"	Smith Greatti	Smith Greatti	3:38
5.	"False Self"	Taylor Gordon Greatti	Smith Greatti	2:52
6.	"Pain for Fun" (featuring St. Vincent)	Smith Annie Clark Greatti	Smith Greatti	3:26
7.	"No Words 1 & 2"	Smith Eddie Benjamin	Smith Benjamin	1:24
8.	"Down"	Smith Benjamin	Smith Benjamin	1:11
9.	"Run!"	Smith Greatti	Smith Greatti	3:08
10.	"Between I and She"	Smith Bank Greatti Elijah Rawk	Smith Greatti Rawk [a]	2:34
11.	"'I Know That Face.'"	Smith Benjamin	Smith Benjamin	1:50
12.	"Big Feelings"	Smith Greatti Zach Tenorio	Smith Greatti	4:24
Total length:				32:00

Ceremonial Contrafact (Empathogen deluxe) track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"Wanted" (featuring Kamasi Washington)	Smith Benjamin Kamasi Washington	Smith Benjamin	2:39
14.	"Layers"	Smith Benjamin	Smith Benjamin	2:37
15.	"To You"	Smith Antonio Mollura	Smith	1:30
Total length:				39:03

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Musicians

• Willow Smith – lead vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1, 2), background vocals (4, 5), electric guitar (4, 9)
• Zach Brown – bass guitar, percussion (track 1)
• Jon Batiste – drums, piano, vocals (track 1)
• Chris Greatti – bass guitar (tracks 3–6, 9, 10, 12), guitar (3, 5), percussion (3–5, 9), acoustic guitar (4, 6, 9, 10), piano (9), electric guitar (10, 12)
• Asher Bank – drums (tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12)
• Brad Oberhofer – piano (track 3)
• Zach Tenorio – piano, synthesizer (tracks 5, 6, 12); strings (5)
• Annie Clark – vocals (track 6)
• Eddie Benjamin – bass guitar, drums, guitar, synthesizer (tracks 7, 8, 11)
• Elijah Rawk – acoustic guitar, bass guitar (track 10)

Technical

• Joe LaPorta – mastering
• Mitch McCarthy – mixing
• Zach Brown – engineering (tracks 1, 2)
• Adam Schoeller – engineering (track 3)
• Chris Greatti – engineering (track 3)
• Oscar Cornejo – engineering (track 11)

Charts

Chart performance for Empathogen

Chart (2024)	Peak position
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) [10]	3

References

1. Pareles, Jon (May 10, 2024). "Post Malone Goes Country With Morgan Wallen, and 8 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
2. Green, Dylan. "Willow: empathogen". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
3. A.R.O. "Review: Willow Smith – Empathogen". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
4. "Empathogen Willow". AllMusic.
5. Mier, Tomás (March 12, 2024). "Willow Drops 'Symptom of Life,' a 'Whimsical' Single With a 'Lot of Mystery'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
6. Paul, Larisha (April 11, 2024). "Willow Processes 'Darkness and Complexity' on 'Big Feelings' From New Album 'Empathogen'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
7. Avila, Daniela (April 11, 2024). "Willow Shares 'Darkly Beautiful' Song 'Big Feelings' and Reveals Release Date for New Album empathogen". People . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
8. Pointer, Ashley (May 1, 2024). "WILLOW: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR Music . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
9. Abraham, Mya (September 27, 2024). "WILLOW, Gallant, Leon Thomas, And More New R&B For Lucid Dreams". Vibe. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
10. "Willow Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2024.