Missouri-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Scout Gillett has announced the forthcoming release of her highly anticipated second album, Tough Touch, scheduled for 6 March 2026. Alongside the announcement, Gillett unveiled the lead single, “Too Fast to Last,” accompanied by a self-directed music video, offering fans an initial glimpse of the album’s sonic and emotional landscape. The release will be through her new label, Slouch Records.

Following the critical acclaim of her debut album, No Roof No Floor (2012), Gillett has undergone a period of profound personal and artistic transformation. Over the past decade, she has toured internationally, endured two significant failed relationships, survived a near-fatal accident, and relocated from New York to Los Angeles after eight years. Tough Touch channels these intense life experiences into a body of work that reflects both her distinctive musical style and her commanding vocal presence.

Speaking about “Too Fast to Last,” Gillett remarked, “I wrote this immediately after my first major European tour. The song captures the exhilaration of life alongside the tension of personal relationships. While recording with my band in Austin, we partially performed it amidst flooding in New Orleans—it was one of the most intimate creative moments of our careers.”

The album’s initial compositions were crafted on a four-track Tascam portastudio in Gillett’s former bedroom studio. Moving away from computer-based production, she embraced a more organic songwriting process. Collaborating with new musicians during her ‘Build-a-Band’ tour, the final lineup coalesced with Ted Jamison (bass), Abdon Valdez (drums), and Omar Shyambacher (guitar). Drawing inspiration from artists such as Neil Young, PJ Harvey, Hole, and Lucinda Williams, Tough Touch was recorded live with producer Stewart Sykes, blending grunge intensity with tender emotionality.

Now permanently based in Los Angeles, Gillett is already composing her third album. She views Tough Touch as a reflection of self-awareness, resilience, and independence. “I’ve learned to trust my intuition, embrace freedom, and approach relationships with both love and confidence,” she said.

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Tough Touch promises a raw, powerful, and expansive musical experience, consolidating Scout Gillett’s reputation as a resilient and distinctive voice in contemporary music.