Pavement Releases First New Music in 25 Years Ahead of Upcoming Biopic

Pavement drops their first recorded track in over two decades, reviving indie vibes with a cover of Jim Pepper’s ‘Witchitai-To’ before their new biopic hits screens.

Pavement Returns with New Music After 25 Years

If you’ve been waiting for new tunes from iconic US indie rockers Pavement, the wait is finally over! The band has just unveiled their first new recorded music in more than 25 years—a fresh cover of Jim Pepper’s classic track, ‘Witchitai-To.’ This release marks a huge moment for fans since their last recorded work, the 1999 EP Major Leagues, which came just before their split that same year.

Pavement’s official poster for their upcoming biopic

Though Pavement reunited for a reunion tour in 2022, this is the first time they’ve officially released new music since then. During that tour, they regularly performed ‘Witchitai-To,’ a track originally featured on jazz musician Jim Pepper’s band Everything Is Everything’s self-titled 1969 debut album. This new version was recorded live during rehearsals for one of those comeback shows, capturing a raw and nostalgic vibe.

Listen to Pavement’s ‘Witchitai-To’ Cover

You can experience this historic release right here:

Behind the New Music: The ‘Pavements’ Biopic

The buzz around this new track first surfaced when Scott Kanneberg, aka Spiral Stairs, revealed on the Kreative Kontrol podcast that “there will be a new Pavement song on the soundtrack” for the upcoming film Pavements. This movie isn’t your typical music documentary—it’s a fascinating blend of fact and fiction, directed by Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell).

The film cleverly weaves together scenes showing the band prepping for a museum exhibit, featuring emerging bands covering Pavement songs, alongside the director’s own journey in casting, writing, and directing a jukebox musical inspired by the band. It also follows Perry’s efforts to get a Hollywood biopic off the ground, starring Stranger Things’ Joe Keery as frontman Stephen Malkmus and Jason Schwartzman as their manager.

Check out the official trailer below to get a glimpse of this intriguing project:

Critical Acclaim and Release Details

The film Pavements earned four stars from critics, who praised it as “a thrillingly creative music documentary that serves as a loving tribute to the band.” The review highlights how Joe Keery immerses himself in the role of Malkmus, down to mockumentary moments like photographing Malkmus’ tongue to perfect his accent. The blend of scripted and candid moments builds an affectionate and entertaining portrait of the band.

The movie is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the UK and will also be available for streaming on MUBI, making it accessible to fans worldwide eager to dive into Pavement’s legacy.

Why ‘Witchitai-To’ Matters

Covering Witchitai-To connects Pavement back to a deeper musical lineage. The original by Jim Pepper and Everything Is Everything blends jazz, Native American influences, and rock in a way that resonates with Pavement’s own genre-bending style. This choice of cover is more than just a nod to the past—it’s a powerful bridge linking generations of indie and experimental music.

“This is a thrillingly creative music documentary that serves as a loving tribute to the band and the sense of fun that Perry is having behind the camera is both palpable and infectious.”
— Matthew Turner

Wrapping It Up

Pavement’s new release and upcoming biopic offer both fans and newcomers a fresh way to connect with the band’s legacy and sound. It’s an exciting moment for indie lovers everywhere. Are you ready to relive the 90s indie magic with a modern twist?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the new Pavement song about?
  It’s a cover of Jim Pepper’s ‘Witchitai-To,’ a 1969 track blending jazz and rock, revived with Pavement’s unique indie flair.
• When was Pavement’s last new music released before this?
  Their last recorded music was the Major Leagues EP in 1999, before their split.
• What is the ‘Pavements’ movie about?
  It’s a blend of documentary and biopic, mixing real and fictional elements about the band’s history and influence.
• Who stars in the Pavements biopic?
  Joe Keery plays Stephen Malkmus, and Jason Schwartzman stars as the band’s manager.
• Where can I watch the Pavements film?
  It will have a limited UK theatrical release and will be streaming soon on MUBI.

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