Would you like some new Mac Miller on this otherwise gloomy Monday? I sure would, so shouts to Zane Lowe and Beats 1 for premiering the new Swimming cut "What's the Use?" alongside a fresh interview.
The track's instantly memorable bass line, Miller revealed, was actually a happy accident and came together after he and producer Pomo had set the song aside to work on something else entirely. "Then Thundercat came over that night and I was like, wait, could you try a bass line?" Miller told Lowe. "Swear to God, that was the first thing he played, like not even checking the notes or anything . . . He literally picked up the bass and that was the first thing he naturally did."
Produced by Pomo with additional production by Dâm-Funk, stream the new track—featuring background vocals from Syd and Snoop Dogg—above and/or below. Though we'll never hear it, Miller also teased that Snoop sent him some "beautiful poetic shit-talking" that ultimately didn't make the final cut.
"He talks a bunch of shit at the end that I didn't up keeping but that I have to listen to," he said.
Earlier this month, Miller shared the official "Self Care" video and the final Swimming tracklist. Though no formal features are listed across the 13-track album, we can probably expect a few more subtle contributions a la "What's the Use?"
Swimming, which also features the previously released "Small Worlds," is out Aug. 3.
Also on Monday, Miller announced the Swimming Tour featuring special guests Thundercat and J.I.D. The tour kicks off in San Francisco in October and runs through mid-December. Ticket sales begin this Friday. Check the dates:
- 10/27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
- 10/30 - San Jose, CA @ City National Civic
- 10/31 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
- 11/2 - Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
- 11/3 - San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
- 11/5 - Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
- 11/8 - Houston, TX @ Revention Music Center
- 11/9 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater
- 11/10 - Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
- 11/13 - Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
- 11/16 - Orlando, FL @ CFE Arena
- 11/17 - Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park Amphitheater
- 11/19 - Washington, DC @ The Theatre at MGM National Harbor
- 11/20 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
- 11/21 - Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
- 11/23 - New York, NY @ Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
- 11/24 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Petersen Events Center
- 11/25 - Toronto, ON @ REBEL
- 11/28 - Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
- 11/30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
- 12/1 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
- 12/2 - Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
- 12/3 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
- 12/8 - Boise, ID @ Revolution Concert House & Event Center
- 12/9 - Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater
- 12/10 - Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
